M-Sport Boss Malcolm Wilson Reveals the Huge Fear He Lived With for 14 Years

Pulse Sports Team 13:18 - 18 October 2026

British outfit M-Sport has campaigned Ford machinery in the WRC for decades, navigating periods both with and without official factory backing. The American automotive giant last fielded a fully-fledged works team in the World Rally Championship back in 2012.

The announcement of Ford's return alongside M-Sport marks one of the most significant developments for the championship in recent years. The two partners will jointly develop a brand-new rally car for the 2029 season, when Ford will officially regain full manufacturer status.

Wilson currently balances two pivotal roles, serving as an FIA Vice President alongside his long-standing position at the helm of M-Sport.

"You can imagine what this means to me. I've always had two major ambitions, two great passions. One was to restore rally to where I truly believe it belongs, and the second was to bring Ford back to the WRC. I believe we're on the right track now. Ford is making a serious commitment, and the championship also has a new promoter," Wilson said in Sardinia.

The partnership between M-Sport and Ford extends well beyond conventional rallying, spanning both rally-raid and circuit racing. As a result, the WRC programme will once again be entrusted entirely to the British squad. While Ford provides extensive resources and technical support, the responsibility for delivering results remains firmly on the shoulders of Wilson and his engineering team.

"From that point of view, nothing changes. We will oversee every single detail – from design and development to managing the entire sporting operation. Over the past 14 years, whenever the entry deadline came around, I constantly questioned whether we could survive financially as a company. The huge relief now is having total clarity for the next four years. There is pressure, but to be completely honest, I have no concerns whatsoever," Wilson affirmed.

Ford's trust in the British team remains unshakable, and history shows that this collaboration consistently yields results. M-Sport boasts a remarkable record of winning five World Rally Championship events on the competitive debut of brand-new cars.

"I have an incredible team of professionals behind me, and our track record speaks for itself. We've won the last five world rallies on a new car's debut. Everything is in place for us to push ahead. We have to recognise that the next two years will be transitional, but from an FIA perspective, the foundations are set to bring the sport back to its glory days," Wilson added.

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