SamTouzel said that his private test in an M-Sport Puma Rally1 – his prize for being the top-placed Ford finisher in the 2025 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship – will ‘live with me forever’, as the recently-crowned champion quickly got to grips with the sensational WRC machine at the M-Sport Evaluation Centre test track near Cockermouth in Cumbria.
Sam spent a full 90 minutes behind the wheel of the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team car that Josh McErlean had driven to a top 10 finish on Rally Saudi Arabia.
Some of the lucky people on hand to witness Sam confidently pushing the car at impressive speed and skill from the outset were his co-driver Max Freeman, Phil and Alex Bradshaw from PB Engineering (who prepares and runs Sam’s title-winning Fiesta Rally2) and some of Sam’s personal friends and sponsors.
The day also included a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the M-Sport trophy room, workshop, engineering facilities and car collections (by the extremely knowledgeable, entertaining and accommodating Tom Krawszik) and a superb buffet lunch.
Very few people have driven a WRC Rally1 car – but on that elite short list are the past two Protyre Asphalt Rally Champions, as Sam followed in the wheel tracks of the 2024 champion Callum Black, who won the M-Sport Puma Rally1 test prize twelve months before.
And what’s more, M-Sport has very generously offered a private test in a Puma Rally1 for the top-placed Ford Fiesta Rally2 finisher in the 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship!
“The experience of driving a Ford Puma Rally1 is going to live with me forever,” said Sam.
“When I’m watching Rallye Monte Carlo in January, I’ll know how fast and powerful this car really is. The g-forces are incredible, and the way the active chassis allows it to grip and turn in is amazing.
“There is nothing else I’ve driven that is like a Puma Rally1. I’m not saying it’s easy to drive, but I’d like to be in one permanently!
“I’d just like to say a massive thank you to Malcolm Wilson and everyone at M-Sport for making us feel so welcome and putting on such an incredible day, to the Protyre Asphalt Championship for orchestrating this prize, to Max [Freeman] for getting me to where I am now as a rally driver, to PB Engineering for running an incredibly reliable Fiesta Rally2 all year, and to my sponsors – because without them and my family I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing now.
“I’m so grateful that so many people who have been with me on this journey were at M-Sport to share this day with me. I couldn’t think of a better way to end this incredible championship-winning year!”
“This is my first experience of sitting in a Rally1 car, and it’s everything that I’d hoped and dreamed it would be,” said Max.
“Every aspect is a step up from a Rally2 car, and it’s a sensory overload. I’ve loved the experience, and it’s made me want to do an actual rally in one now!
“Sam’s an incredibly talented driver and the progress he’s made over the last eighteen months shows his ability to pick up these skills. I’m not surprised that he quickly got to grips with a Rally1 car.
“A big thanks to everyone at M-Sport and the Protyre Asphalt Championship for organising a day like this. It’s been unreal.”
“I’m delighted that we’ve once again been able to offer a Puma Rally1 driving experience to the top-placed Ford driver in this year’s Protyre Asphalt Championship,” said Rich Millener, Team Principal, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team.
“These national series are crucial to what we do at M-Sport, and it’s incredibly rewarding to support and recognise emerging talent here in the UK.
“The Protyre Asphalt Championship consistently delivers some of the finest Tarmac rallying in the country and remains one of the standout championships in the UK rally scene. It’s a privilege for us to contribute with a prize of this calibre, and it was a pleasure to welcome Sam to M-Sport and see him experience the Puma Rally1 first-hand. Congratulations to him on a fantastic season.”
There isn’t much time to wait for the start of the 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship, which begins with the East Riding Stages (21/22 February).
Regulations for the 2026 series will be published shortly.
Well done to all involved what a great achievement for you all an amazing prize .looking forward to the future success of your team go get it and enjoy 2026 ❤️ Gill Touzel x