M-Sport’s unlikely road to World Rally Championship success

The foundation for M-Sport’s survival and success had been laid as far back as late 2004 when Ford first dropped a bombshell.

“I arrived in Japan [for a round of the World Rally Championship] after an incredible trip – it took me three days, there was a typhoon,” Wilson recalled.

“When I arrived to pick up my bags there was a Ford PR guy waiting for me with a press release saying they were withdrawing. Totally out of the blue.

“That was quite a period. At one point I had three telephones in my room [trying to save the partnership].

“We looked at ways to reduce the cost to them. All I’d been allowed to do up to that point was to run the two main cars and not look at doing any customer sales.

“We went on to win two world championships in 2006 and 2007.”

Further revenues come from Bentley, with M-Sport’s engineering expertise now enlisted for the luxury car-maker’s assault on endurance racing, external in Europe, North America and Asia.

Despite so much resting on his shoulders, Wilson is optimistic about the future.

“I feel like we’re in a position where it can only be positive,” he said. “What we’re lacking is manufacturer backing.

“The nice one would be Ford saying they’re looking to come back in WRC. That’s the sort of phone call I’m looking for now.”