M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s NGK-equipped EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC cars had the pace to challenge for the top results at the recent Rally de Portugal, but eventually Teemu Suninen and Elfyn Evans had to settle for fourth and fifth place respectively.

Suninen delivered an impressive performance through the opening stages with several top times including a stage win, leaving him just 13 seconds shy of the lead on day one. However, he later suffered the set back of a broken brake pipe. Evans was also on top form and challenging for the podium before a loose connector caused him to fall from the fight. Both Fiestas, fitted with NGK spark plugs and NTK Lambda sensors, recovered to finish inside the overall top-five.

Mark Hallam, Marketing Manager, NGK Spark Plugs said, “It was a frustrating weekend for the team but still a very creditable performance which deserved a better return. I’m sure the team’s efforts will soon receive their just rewards in the coming rounds of the championship.”