"Having no LHD experience, I wasn't expecting this at all. It's fantastic that M-Sport have recognised our commitment to FST and this is the best possible way we could have been rewarded. My good friend Derek Jobb has lent me his LHD car in preparation for the test!"

The concept of the scholarship was introduced this season by M-Sport to reward the commitment of drivers' competing in both the UK and Irish FST championships and through the initiative M-Sport hopes to give Evans and Fisher a glimpse of what they are aspiring to.

Four other drivers meanwhile from the joint-championship scholarship will also have a chance to get a taste of the Ford Focus WRC having started eight of the 12 qualifying rounds this season. They are Meilyr Evans, Barry Greer, James Everard and Kyle Orr.