M-Sport mechanics rebuilt a completely destroyed Ford Puma rally car in just under four hours after a high-speed crash at Rally Finland. The car, valued at around £1 million, was repaired with 73 new parts, allowing it to re-enter the rally the next day.
Crash and Repair
The incident occurred 6.3km into the SS14 stage when driver Mārtiņš Sesks clipped a ditch on the exit of a fast right-hander, causing the car to barrel roll into a row of trees. Despite the extensive damage, the roll cage survival cell ensured Sesks and co-driver Renārs Francis were completely uninjured.
Initially, the team considered retiring the car, but after Sesks drove it out of the stage, they realized most of the damage was cosmetic. Ten on-site mechanics worked for four hours, stripping the old bodywork and building a new chassis around the frame.
Parts and Completion
The repairs included a new rear roof panel, rear brake ducts, fender panels, tail lamps, brake pads, arch line diffusers, bodywork panels, and door hinges. The team completed the work with 20 minutes to spare, even posing for a photograph next to the rebuilt car.
Team boss Richard Millener praised the effort, saying, “A small mistake ended with big damage. You get 4 hours to repair it and stay in the rally. Is it possible? Of course it was. Top work team.” This is not the first time M-Sport has performed such a feat, having fixed Gregoire Munster’s car after a crash at Rally Finland in 2024.
