Britain's
Matthew Wilson is to compete on Wales Rally GB next month as part of the M-Sport Ford
World Rally Team.
Wilson, who has been out of action since January's opening round in Monte Carlo, will be back behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta RS WRC car, teaming up with M-Sport regulars Ott Tanak and Evgeny Novikov.
With backing from Invest in Cumbria, Britain's Energy Coast Cumbria and In-Cumbria as well as on-going discussions with various other Cumbrian firms, the 25-year-old will sport a brand-new livery which 'truly identifies his Cumbrian roots and highlights the county's ever-growing commercial prowess'.
“It will be fantastic to get back to the WRC. I have been waiting for this for a long time and to have my return [to the championship] on my home event is something very special,” said Wilson, who started the 2012 WRC season as part of the now defunct 'Go Fast Energy
World Rally Team' prior to his training accident ahead of Rally Sweden.
“I am very proud of my Cumbrian roots and to have pretty much everything on this project from Cumbria is fantastic.
“Obviously both Scott [Martin – my co-driver] and myself are Cumbrians born-and-bred, the car has been built here at M-Sport [in Cumbria] and to have the support of so many local organisations is very encouraging.
“Of course we will have a lot of work to do in the lead-up to the event. I've not competed on any gravel rallies this year and we'll need to work hard to be on the pace from the off.
“But I am really looking forward to getting back [behind the wheel] and hopefully we can achieve the same as last year and bring home a good result for the British fans.”
Wilson has a good record on Rally GB and in his previous five outings he has always finished in the top-ten. He was fifth last year as Ford cars occupied eight of the first nine places – an accomplishment never before achieved by a manufacturer in the WRC.
More information on the livery of Wilson's M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC car will be released in due course.