Twice French Rally Champion with co-driver Nicolas Klinger, and defending his title, Julien Maurin will begin his season with the legendary Monte Carlo Rally, first round of his new WRC2 programme. The Oreca-Store.com driver has decided to pay tribute to Ford on this occasion. His Fiesta RRC will display a unique graphic design, mentioning the brand’s seven wins as part of this event: from its very first success in 1936 to its latest victory in 2010 with the Fiesta S2000.

“For the legendary Monte Carlo rally, I wanted something unique”

For its seventh participation in the Rally Monte Carlo, the second one as part of the World Rally Championship, Julien Maurin will try to launch his WRC2 season, aiming for the 2015 title with co-driver Nicolas Klinger. One clear objective: to avoid the many pitfalls of this first round in order to score as many points as possible and to get a good place to fight for the world crown. Julien Maurin has been linked to Ford for several years: through one of his main partners, the Gathering of Ford French dealers, as well as through his sporting successes, having clinched wins and titles with the Fiesta. For the beginning of this new challenge, he has opted for a specific graphic design, as a special gesture towards the manufacturer.

“Following on my two titles in France, I wanted something different, in terms of both sports and visual design” Julien Maurin explains. “With Nicolas (Klinger), we’re embarking on the next WRC2 and the graphic design displayed on our car for our next rally will be completely different from before and will match the driver overalls recently unveiled. But for such a specific and historic event as the Monte-Carlo rally I wanted something unique. I’ve achieved my different wins and titles with Ford, and I was marked by the brand’s successes in the 90s and the 00s. Whether when I was a young fan, in 1994 and 1996, or during my first years as a rally contender, in 2006 and 2010. The latter marked my first participation in the Monte-Carlo with a Ford.”

Set up for the RRC, Julien Maurin’s Ford Fiesta will compete under No. 36, displaying Ford’s typical colours: blue and white. On the bonnet will appear the years marking the brand’s different successes. Same on the roof, but topped up with the victorious models. “The idea was to pay tribute to Ford while featuring a modern and aggressive style” Julien Maurin says. “Ford’s classic colours are thus combined with straight and direct lines. Other models have also inspired us such as the RS200 and its lateral stripes. The No. 36 is a happy coincidence since it corresponds to the year Ford first won the Rally Monte Carlo.”

Supported by the Gathering of Ford French dealers, Yacco and Identicar, Julien Maurin will be supported by well-experienced co-driver Nicolas Klinger. The duo will compete at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta (RRC version) which will be operated by Emap Motors.

Ford’s victories at Monte-Carlo