Matthew Wilson Story

From Sportinglife.com ..

McRAE UNIMPRESSED BY WILSON

Britain's first world rally champion Colin McRae believes Cumbria's Matthew Wilson has yet to show any clear indication of the talent needed to become the UK's next world champion.

Wilson is currently in his second season in a competitive car in the World Rally Championship but McRae has not been overly impressed with what he has seen so far.

According to McRae, Wilson has yet to show "an outstanding turn of pace" which he would expect a future champion to show early in his career.
On the eve of Rally Norway, the third round of the World Championship, McRae also revealed he believed there was a "significant" gap between Wilson and the leading drivers.

Wilson, whose father Malcolm was British champion and now runs the BP Ford rally team, drives a privately-entered £400,000 Ford Focus for the Eddie Stobart Motorsport Team.

In his first season last year Wilson picked up one championship point from 16 events and, at the age of 19, became the youngest winner of a stage on a round of the World Championship.

Wilson was taught to drive by 1981 world champion Ari Vatanen and by the age of 18 he was winning rounds of the British Championship but he was fast-tracked to the World Championship rather than competing in lesser series.

The idea was for him to learn the skills of racing complicated timed stages and then be a title contender by 2010.

"No other driver has gone along that (career) route," said McRae, who used to drive for Malcolm Wilson's Ford team.
"It is definitely being thrown in at the deep end," added McRae.
"I think he should be showing more pace than he is. His is in the same car (as the works Ford drivers), I don't know if exactly the same spec, but it is certainly not more than half a second a kilometre off the pace.
"And he is more than half a second a kilometre off the pace. So, judging on what I have seen, I'd say no, [he is not a potential world champion]. But let's see. I'm not saying he will never make it."

Marcus Gronholm, number one driver at BP Ford, declined to comment on the performance of his boss' son, but Malcolm Wilson acknowledged critics had questioned whether Matthew was World Championship material.

But he defended the decision to bring Matthew into WRC at 19 and pointed to the five-year plan for him to learn the rallies and build up his pace.
Matthew Wilson is not overly concerned by his critics and refers to the highlights of his 2006 season which included running in the top six on tough events like Mexico.

"People expect you to deliver a lot very quickly. You can't be expecting to jump in there and beating Sebastien Loeb. That's not realistic," said Matthew Wilson.
"This year is about getting more experience and confidence and, on certain events, start showing more speed. But this will take time.
"To put things in perspective, Colin's still the youngest winner of the championship and he was 26. So we still have six years to beat that.
"I know the country wants another world champion now, but it's not an overnight thing. I believe I can be world rally champion, or I would not be here now."

The thing I don't understand is that they put that guy immediatly in a WRCar..
Let that guy learn in lower classes, with slower cars. That's how all the big boys have done it (as far as I know)

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Originally Posted by Corny

The thing I don't understand is that they put that guy immediatly in a WRCar..
Let that guy learn in lower classes, with slower cars. That's how all the big boys have done it (as far as I know)

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Andreas Mikklelson and Mads Ostberg - straight into WRC cars.

Mr McRae is in a far better qualified than the majority of us to comment. I'll leave it at that..................

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Originally Posted by MJW

Andreas Mikklelson and Mads Ostberg - straight into WRC cars.

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You think that guys will be world champion?

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Originally Posted by Tomski

Mr McRae is in a far better qualified than the majority of us to comment. I'll leave it at that..................

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If it was requirement to be a former World Champion to comment on a drivers performance whats the point of this forum????


Back on topic, I was wondering when Wilson Jr was going to pop up again. I think this subject was debated extensively already on the forum???

Interesting thread... :p :

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Originally Posted by Corny

You think that guys will be world champion?

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Don't know about that - but if you look on Sweden, Østberg in his debut in WRC outclassed Wilson completely in an Impreza '04, even with stage win (Mickey Mouse, but still9 - Wilson has had a full season in a top car. I would say Østberg is much more lightly to become a champion!

Mikkelsen has the opportunity to do the same this weekend, it will be interesting to see.

I know it's snow, but still, with Matthews experience and car, he should have been way ahead!

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Originally Posted by MJW

Andreas Mikklelson and Mads Ostberg - straight into WRC cars.

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The sad thing is theyre probably already faster then Slowson even if they have older cars and much much less experience than him. And Flodin, who never droved a wrc car before, beats him on the stages in sweden as long as slowson was on the road with no problems.

This is/looks like a pop idol thing (or whatever its called), but creating a rally star. It all feels fake. (i mean slowson, not the talents)
Its embarrasing!

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Originally Posted by Peugeot206WRC

This is/looks like a pop idol thing (or whatever its called), but creating a rally star. It all feels fake. (i mean slowson, not the talents)
Its embarrasing!

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agree, it's kind of sad but the rally is going in this direction i belive.

What comes to Norwegians and rally, i think they are a bit "overheating", but will come back on the earth after a while, and things become more healthy. :)
A little same was here too about F1 a few years back when it was kind of new, all dad's took their kids to drive carting, i put mikkelsen in same category, but it's not my problem, Wilson and dad Mikkelsen dont tell me how to use my money either.

Too much too soon.
Building a career in lower classes seems still be the way to go. Look at Loeb and Sordo for example.

Wilson and to a certain extent Latvala are examples of going too big cars too soon. I'm afraid same will happen to the Norwegian young guns as well. I'm not sad if I'm wrong in that

One year ago i was alone in my opinion, but now i'm not alone :s mokin:

Like Cod wrote start on the top is not a good option.

The image of the driver could be burn burn forever, because we will always be seen as rich boy that evaluated by obligation and not by natural skills. Drivers with natural skills is what i search for. The WRC is the place for the best ones or the ones that are near the best ones. His eventual speed will never have the real value.

But is the sad reallity, this is the future direction. However this is not a reason to not coment the situation.

In Portugal he have Armindo Araújo, started with a Grp N Renault Clio 16V and after with a Saxo Cup. Two years on these cars and two titles. Next was the Saxo Kit Car during 3 years with three titles, next two years with a Grp N Mitsubishi and two more titles. And this year (finaly and a bit late) the PWRC... and a fantastic perfomance on his debut in snow. That is growing step by step. That is the way.

Wilson Threads should be illegal :) :)

Jokes apart i think that Wilson is nothing more than a warmbold case...maybe in 2-3 years he manages to do some respecatble times in top 10 when the entry lists are good and that will be it....but i doubt speedwise he will ever be among top 6.

As for the other issue that of taking rally step by step...sometimes this way doesn't lead you anywhere...and you get stuck in the lower classes for ever like Meeke.

Name: Mathew Wilson
Position: The son

Nothing more to say...

I agree that young Wilson is off the pace and perhaps he should have stayed in the lower classes BUT...give the kid a break.After all he HAS been thrown into the "deep end" hasnt he?? Ill give him some more time before I decide wether or not he should be competing at this level.I mean..if my Dad ran a WRC team I know Id want a shot at it...wether I was competitive or not!!!!!

Well, I often compare young Wilson to Andreas Aigner. Both of them are young boys and both of them came to WRChamp last year. Wilson had an advantage that he ran WRC car already before 2006 season in the UK. But Aigner's first contact with WRC happened when coming to 2006 Monte Carlo. And although the Austrian did generally better performance in all 2006 season. Aigner is also "created pop-star", but in my opinion he has better skills to drive a rally car than Willson. And he has to try to do his best in PWRC, because if he will not have made good result in production car, the door to WRC will shut.

You make a good point Karbonyl....I am sure Matthew is going to have to prove he is deserving of his seat at some point...we will see.....

I remember some Francois Duval in Sweden 2002, first time in a WRCar, no snow experience, driving in a much stronger field than there's now, and got 10th. That's what I call pure talent.

I don't think Duval will be champion, because he never got much faster.

This is what I mean, you can't say much about a driver that's still so young. You can only hope he will improve..

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Originally Posted by N.O.T

As for the other issue that of taking rally step by step...sometimes this way doesn't lead you anywhere...and you get stuck in the lower classes for ever like Meeke.

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There's nothing to do with the Wilson situation. Without the right support you never reach nothing, with or without skills. But with skills SOMETIMES you can atract attention and to receive something good, unfortunatelly only sometimes. But that's it, Wilson with a Focus WRC and Meeke without it. If you are sad by not having a top driver on WRC ask to Malcon Wilson and Eddie Stobart where is his british spirit.

I'm against the guy made rallystar without skills.

For me, as an outsider, its doing Stobarts image harm continually flogging a dead horse. It doesnt really show with good business acumen...

It might last till the end of the season, but that will be it.

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Originally Posted by JAM

If you are sad by not having a top driver on WRC ask to Malcon Wilson and Eddie Stobart where is his british spirit.

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Let me ask one thing...as a father what would you do if given the same possibility as what Malcolm Wilson has to support his own son? Matthew is not going to be a champion yes we can all see that but they are father and son, don't you think he is entitled to do and support his own son in anyway he wants? And that should not be any others business than Malcolm's and Matthew's IMHO.

Wilson jr. is like Don Quiote against windmills. I can't see him winning them, ever.

BUT, the seat is not away from anybody, better yet, Wilson jr. having the seat makes it possible for other to drive too :up:

So, if you ask me, drive all you want Matthew :)

for sure.. but dont call yourself the next world champion... :)

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Originally Posted by DonJippo

Let me ask one thing...as a father what would you do if given the same possibility as what Malcolm Wilson has to support his own son? Matthew is not going to be a champion yes we can all see that but they are father and son, don't you think he is entitled to do and support his own son in anyway he wants? And that should not be any others business than Malcolm's and Matthew's IMHO.

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If I was his father I never put him in a WRC car on the WRC championship with 18yo. I would probably think about some rallyes if the guy would show a very good pace, but Wilson didn't shown that on the national rallyes. All of this is also to Andreas Aigner, because is almost the same situation. Aigner was so good to drive a WRC car and now on PWRC we see what happens. WRC don't need these false top drivers.

Dear Don Jippo If this is Malcom and Matthew business and should not be discussed, then we could go home and close the forum. The perfomance of all the drivers on Norway is his own bussines, not our business. They are the ones who have to show results to the sponsors so we must be shut up no?

Why do some people always say without matt there wouldnt be a stobart team to defend him? I think youre wrong.
Maybe (note maybe) the stobart wouldnt be there, but im sure there would be another team/driver who would be there instead.
I think they who came up with this first just did it so there is an excuse for matt to be in the wrc.
In a older thread i saw some people said there would be a stobart team with or without wilson! I have no sources but im sure it would be a team even without matt

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Originally Posted by JAM

Dear Don Jippo If this is Malcom and Matthew business and should not be discussed, then we could go home and close the forum. The perfomance of all the drivers on Norway is his own bussines, not our business. They are the ones who have to show results to the sponsors so we must be shut up no?

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Yes I do believe this is Malcolm's and Matthew's business but I'm not saying it should not be discussed, just wondering what there is that has not yet been said in earlier posts?

And what comes to sponsors, don't think it really depends about Matthew's results if they stay with M-Sport or not, do you? After all most of the sponsors they have are driver's sponsors not team excluding ofcourse the official team and it's title sponsors.

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Originally Posted by DonJippo

Yes I do believe this is Malcolm's and Matthew's business but I'm not saying it should not be discussed, just wondering what there is that has not yet been said in earlier posts?

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Understood. People simply don't like them. He was presented as the future WRChampion in January 06. I'm repeating my arguments since then :d but i'm not tired.

And after all people maybe feel the same as me, if they have money to spend, then please spend in a british driver that would leave far the name of UK and gave positive feed back to the sponsoring and the country.

When i refered the relation sponsors / drivers was talking in general, not in the Wilson's case.

Are the Kid and Daddy aware of this forum?

It may be helpfull for them and know what to do!!!

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Originally Posted by JAM

And after all people maybe feel the same as me, if they have money to spend, then please spend in a british driver that would leave far the name of UK and gave positive feed back to the sponsoring and the country.

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Being my money to spend and having own son or someone else to spend it, I would choose my son. And that is what I mean it's up to Malcolm to decide as I do believe Matthew's driving is from Malcolm's pocket and not from any sponsor.

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Originally Posted by DonJippo

Being my money to spend and having own son or someone else to spend it, I would choose my son. And that is what I mean it's up to Malcolm to decide as I do believe Matthew's driving is from Malcolm's pocket and not from any sponsor.

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And that's why people discuss the matter :D

It will be interesting to see how Wilson compares to Wilks this weekend - Guy is currently just 8.5 seconds slower than Matthew after stage 3, and thats in an older Focus.

Rally Norway, stage 4 - Grue 14.37km

Matthew Wilson - Ford Focus RS WRC 06
Stage time: 8:01.1

Per Gunnar Andersson - Suzuki Swift S1600
Stage time: 8:00.3


Look at the cars they are driving with and compare those times. NO COMMENTS!

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Originally Posted by DonJippo

Let me ask one thing...as a father what would you do if given the same possibility as what Malcolm Wilson has to support his own son? Matthew is not going to be a champion yes we can all see that but they are father and son, don't you think he is entitled to do and support his own son in anyway he wants? And that should not be any others business than Malcolm's and Matthew's IMHO.

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I agree. However, that shouldn't preclude people from having opinions on Matthew's performance, and mine is that he doesn't hack it. I also think that it's a shame there isn't a truly strong British Championship in which he could be competing as a prelude to any WRC career, just as Colin McRae and Matthew's father had the undoubted benefit of.

If he has the finance for a 6 year wrc programme, surely he could afford to spend a year learning his trade on the JWRC and PWRC. The stakes, spotlight and learning curve wouldn't be so great.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

I also think that it's a shame there isn't a truly strong British Championship in which he could be competing as a prelude to any WRC career, just as Colin McRae and Matthew's father had the undoubted benefit of.

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Just because British rallying is poor doesn't mean he has to jump into the WRC so quickly. Plenty of competitive European championships for Matthew to benefit from. Aswell as the asian championship, where McRae competed....

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Originally Posted by jidoka

Just because British rallying is poor doesn't mean he has to jump into the WRC so quickly. Plenty of competitive European championships for Matthew to benefit from. Aswell as the asian championship, where McRae competed....

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He was here in Finnish championship, but then he had an accident.

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Originally Posted by jidoka

Just because British rallying is poor doesn't mean he has to jump into the WRC so quickly. Plenty of competitive European championships for Matthew to benefit from. Aswell as the asian championship, where McRae competed....

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This is true.

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Originally Posted by Tomi

He was here in Finnish championship, but then he had an accident.

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Are we talking about McRae. Since you said accident I presume we are. How many rallies did he do?

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Originally Posted by jidoka

Are we talking about McRae. Since you said accident I presume we are. How many rallies did he do?

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not mcrae, but wilson was here, did not do so good and the accident he had somewhere else if i remember right.

BTW what happens to Ford JWRC prorgram??? Is there still Ford Fiesta JWRC running in WRC??? ( I guess Puma's are gone....!?) If so, does M-Sports run JWRC's???

After seeing Loeb, Duval, Sordo, etc. coming up from JWRC, I think JWRC is a good step stone to WRC, and Matthew Willson should've competed in JWRC if Ford still has JWRC program.

matthew wilson is 20yrs old right?

Henri Toivenen I think is still the youngest drive to win a rally 24years old. and colin mcrae has tittle at 26 yrs old?

i think matthew have a couple more years to prove himself. maybe he will pull some supprise. although as of now there are many potential wrc champion in the future, mikko, sordo, atkinson. not many people gets to be champion.