M-Sport Ford and Gus Greensmith have announced the end of their collaboration! The team issued a heartfelt statement with a video

The merry-go-round of transfers in the WRC series for next season continues. The M-Sport Ford team has announced that 25-year-old Gus Greensmith will leave the team from next year after eight years together. The Briton has scored two stage wins in his WRC driving career, but has yet to score his first podium finish. Greensmith’s future in the championship is not yet known.

Following the news that confirmed the Ford stable’s driver line-up for January’s Monte Carlo Rally, the announcement of another in a series of transfers for next season’s World Championship bubbled to the surface. Ford, one of the three factories competing in the championship, has terminated its contract with Gus Greensmith, ending an eight-year relationship.

In a brief post on Twitter, M-Sport expressed its emotional stance on Greensmith’s departure from Ford.

“Gus, you entered this sport with us eight years ago, from your first R1 events to the Puma Rally1 car you drove against the best in the world. It’s a sad day because today Gus and M-Sport are parting ways. It’s not the end or the goodbye. It’s a sincere and heartfelt thank you. All the best for the future.”

Greensmith himself added his own comment on that M-Sport post. “8 years for better or worse, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I would just like to say thank you and goodbye to everyone at M-Sport.” He followed this up by saying that he will announce his plans for 2023 in the near future.

The Manchester, UK native began his journey in the world of rallying in 2014 when he entered the British Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta R2. He got his first taste of the most prestigious category five years later in the Rally Portugal.

He started this season with two fifth-place finishes in Monte-Carlo and Sweden. He subsequently recorded what he hopes is the best performance of his career to date in June’s Safari Rally, finishing the legendary event in fourth place.

He also scored double stage wins in the 2022 season. The first came right at the start of the year in Monte-Carlo, and then towards the end of the World Championship in New Zealand.

According to a report on the WRC’s official website, Greensmith is expected to enter selected events next season. In which car or in which category will be revealed in the coming weeks. However, there has been speculation that Greensmith could link up with Toyota.

In the event of Sébastien Ogier’s unavailability, he would complement the championship squad of Takamoto Katsuta, Elfyn Evans and reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera.

Sources: WRC, M-Sport Ford Puma WRT