Hirvonen M-Sport Fiesta S2000 Monte Test [VIDEO] – Sousa gets Fiesta for WRC Cup

Mikko Hirvonen started testing the M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 in the Ardeche yesterday, ahead of the car's competitive debut on January's IRC Rallye Monte Carlo.

The team will spend a number of days testing in France but M-Sport has yet to announce who will pilot the new Super 2000 machine for Monte Carlo.

Meanwhile, Portuguese driver Bernardo Sousa is the latest driver to confirm that he will be contesting next year's S2000 WRC Cup in a Ford Fiesta S2000.

"I think everyone saw that the Punto wasn't that competitive - at least not as much as we thought it would be at the beginning of the season," Sousa told wrc.com. "If we want to try and get to first position we needed to change. The Punto hasn't evolved, and it was the first to be built to the Super 2000 rules so we need to change it. I'm sure that the Fiesta is the best car on the market."

"With M-Sport and the Fiesta I think we're going to be with the best team and the best car," said Sousa. "I think this combination will help us achieve the best results. Also, it looks like Xevi Pons will be a new team-mate, and that's going to be great. I'm sure we'll get along very well, and having drivers like him in the team is good for the development of the car."

Sousa's WRC Cup programme starts with the first rally of the year in Sweden, and includes the rounds in Jordan, Portugal, Germany, France, Japan and Great Britain. "This will be my third year in the WRC and I hope that with a bit more experience I can get some top five finishes, and maybe some podiums on events we know a bit better," said Sordo.