THE STORY OF… M-SPORT’S GREATEST HITS
“His fifth consecutive drivers’ title, the first for M-Sport, and the first for any Ford driver since Ari Vatanen’s RS1800 Escort back in 1981”
In 1996, Ford Motorsport was in trouble and had to face up to several major problems. One was that new World Rally Car regulations were about to be imposed for the 1997 season. Another was that the team had no suitable car that would be competitive under the new rules. And third, Ford’s top management was threatening to banish the world programme to an outside contractor to save money at Boreham.
Boreham could solve just one of these problems, and did so remarkably rapidly. Not only did the team persuade the authorities that a new car (which did not completely meet the new rules, and was to be called the Escort World Rally Car) could be ready for the 1997 season, but also promised that if the WRC Escort was allowed to enter for 1997 and 1998, then an all-new WRC machine (which was to fit with the ethos of the new rules much better) would be developed in time for 1999. The FIA didn’t believe this would be possible, so reluctantly agreed. Boreham’s Philip Dunabin and John Taylor conceived, built, and prototype-tested two new Escort WRC cars to prove their point.
ENTER M-SPORT
But who would build the 20 cars needed to achieve WRC homologation? And who should step up to run the 1997 rally programme?
At very short notice, Malcolm Wilson and his fast-growing M-Sport, March 2021), we looked at Malcolm’s distinguished career behind the wheel (including various Blue Ovals), but on the way he set up an accessory supply business too – Malcolm Wilson Motorsport. Over the years, it expanded from selling parts to preparing full cars for other teams, and once reformed as M-Sport, began shooting for world championship honours.
