The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team has confirmed that Bryan Bouffier will drive a third Ford Fiesta WRC for the team at two rounds of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship – Rallye Monte- Carlo and the Tour de Corse.

A past winner of both rallies, the Frenchman has expertise when it comes to understanding the challenging conditions that have come to typify the two legendary events. He won the Monte when it was an Intercontinental Rally Challenge event in 2011, and three years later when it was back on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar, he came close to a second victory with a Fiesta before having to settle for second place behind Sebastien Ogier. In 2013, he won the Tour de Corse when the Corsican event was a round of the FIA European Rally Championship.

“It’s great to have Bryan on board for Rallye Monte-Carlo and the Tour de Corse. When it comes to these events, it’s fair to say that his experience is unrivaled,” said M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson. “These are two of the most specialized rallies on the calendar and the conditions and tire selections can so often determine who succeeds. With Bryan’s knowledge, we will have another string to our bow as we look to defend our championship titles.”

“I honestly didn’t think I would get an opportunity to drive this car – not even on test – so I am very excited,” said Bouffier. “It’s always a great pleasure to work with Malcolm and the M-Sport team, and their amazing success in 2017 makes me very proud to work with them again.

“Monte and Corsica are two very different events, but they are also two of my favorites. They’re the two ‘French’ rounds of the season and it is always a pleasure to drive on home soil – even more so with this new car!

“My plan is to be relaxed and to have fun. I would also love to score some manufacturer points for the team – that would just be the icing on the cake!”

Rallye Monte Carlo opens the 2018 WRC on Jan. 25-28, with the Tour de Corse, Round 4 of the season, is set for April 5-8.