[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

[RAS007]

That's right they haven't, they lost the factory support from the Ford company due to the world crisis that infected the car industry quite heavily so what's next... Wilson had to rethink its strategy into surviving mode and they went on as a private company, renting its cars to a wide range of drivers. Nothing wrong with that. M-Sport can't compete against other works teams let alone beating them and winning rallies let alone targeting the WRC title. I think Malcolm Wilson M-Sport is doing a very good job, he is making money now and providing many jobs as WRC team, as hugely successful Fiesta R5 manufacturer and as Bentley GT3 semi factory team owner. You know why the last one: big money potential on circuits even more than on rally track, so there we go again.

I think if they had been able to win the driver's crown, just once even, in the last 18 years, I would feel differently. Don't get me wrong, I am a Ford fan through and through (look at my username), and I was a fan of Malcolm's when he was a driver (K202 HNO Michelin Pilot Escort RS Cosworth 1:18 model is in my study!). But, I can't help feel that perhaps Ford wouldn't have withdrawn factory support so readily if M-Sport had delivered more success over Malcolm's 18 years in charge. Maybe I am wrong; I am aware that without Malcolm, there may no Ford at all in the WRC. That is to say, I am very well aware of his immense contribution to the sport overall, and am thankful for it. Malcolm Wilson Motorsport started out as a customer preparation outfit, and I think they have returned to their roots, for reasons not entirely of their own making. The analogy that comes to mind is of a football club: if Malcolm was the manager of a football team, he would have been punted upstairs a long time ago, into a thoroughly deserved Director of Football role, due to his service to the club, but a new manager with a new approach would have been appointed a long time ago to try and deliver silverware. I am aware that this analogy doesn't translate directly to the WRC and its unique economic drivers, but hopefully you get my point…..Anyway, just my thoughts.

Edit: one last thing I'd like to say is that I dearly wish it had been different. I would have loved nothing more than for Malcolm to bring home the driver's crown for Ford with Sainz (in 1997 or in the dream team of 2001 with McRae and Delecour!) or with McRae, or with Martin, or with Gronholm, or with Hirvonen, or with Latvala, or even with Kankkunen back in 1998. Anyway, as I said, just my thoughts.