Powell in as Novikov switches teams

The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team will have a new recruit for Spain’s FIA World Rally Championship finale next month - but Evgeny Novikov will still be in action despite John Powell taking his seat for the mixed-surface spectacular.

Novikov (pictured) has campaigned an M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC since the start of the season but an agreement with tyre firm DMACK’s Russian subsidiary means the Moscow ace will transfer to Autotek Motorsport for the Salou round.

M-Sport has an existing deal with rival tyre company Michelin, which has resulted in Novikov’s one-off switch and handed Powell an opportunity to make his WRC debut 17 years after his introduction to the sport.

DMACK will back a second Autotek-run Fiesta in Spain with Czech Martin Prokop re-joining the British squad. Days two and three in Spain, which run on asphalt, will mark the first time that DMACK’s Tarmac rubber will be used on a World Rally Car in competition.

“It’s important for DMACK to evaluate its performance using the best possible cars, and the events which deliver the greatest challenge,” said DMACK’s Dick Cormack. “We’ve equipped World Rally Cars on over half of the rallies this season and it’s given us vital feedback for next year’s range. We are constantly improving, have made significant steps in performance and see competing at the top level of motorsport key to our development.”

Novikov will continue with stand-in co-driver Ilka Minor, while Michael Fennell will partner Trinidad and Tobago’s Powell, who is currently competing in the FIA’s NACAM regional series. Ott Tanak will head the M-Sport line-up in Spain on the back of his maiden podium finish on Rally Italia Sardegna earlier this month.

Q&A: John Powell

What made you decide to tackle an event in the FIA World Rally Championship?

“The World Rally Championship is undoubtedly the highest level of competition in rallying. It is every driver’s dream to compete in the WRC and against the world’s best. At the moment I am competing in the NACAM series as well as the Caribbean championships, and have always had a keen interest in somehow finding a way to the WRC. When the opportunity arose for a seat with M-Sport at Rally de Espana, there was only one answer.”

What made you chose M-Sport?

“M-Sport is one of the biggest names in the world when it comes to rallying and it is a real pleasure to be driving for them in Spain. They have an incredibly decorated history in the sport. It’s a fantastic team, and I am looking forward to an unforgettable experience on the event - and also the opportunity to race against the other M-Sport and Ford drivers.”

What do you hope to learn from competing on the world stage?

“You learn something from every rally that you do, but I’m sure the experience at WRC level is going to be on a much larger scale. As I mentioned, this is the highest level of competition so if you are going to learn anything, this would be the place to do it. I think for the most part competing is going to show me first-hand what it takes to compete at the highest level. And then I’ll be able to apply what I have learnt when I get back to my regional events in 2013 where I hope to be able to share this knowledge with my fellow local drivers.”

What result will you be aiming for in Spain?

“Obviously our first aim is to go out there and finish strongly. We really want to be on the overall standings by the end of the event. I am anticipating a fast field though as there are a number of drivers who are still fighting for points and with this being the last event, they are going to be quick. The focus is a bit different for us as it’s our first time in the WRC, but we are eligible to score points for M-Sport so that is definitely a motivating factor to go as fast as we can.”