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M-sport’s development of its Dovenby Hall headquarters is more than a month ahead of schedule – with the test track expected to be finished by the end of the year.

The Cumbrian firm is investing £19million to transform its current base into a ‘world-leading’ motorsport research and development facility. In addition to the 1.57mile test track, there will be a 108,000 square-metre evaluation centre. The whole 115-acre site is expected to be open for business at the end of next year.

M-sport head Malcolm Wilson told MN: “It’s unbelievable how quickly everything’s coming together. The circuit is five weeks ahead of schedule. While it’ll be done by the end of the year, we can’t use it until everything is finished, which should be the end of next year.”

Wilson is in the middle of signing off on plans for the evaluation centre, which will incorporate a composites department, fabrication centre, machine shop and chassis dynos as well as a race control centre for the test track itself.

“This will be the one-stopshop for motorsport and low-volume road car work for manufacturers,” said Wilson.

“We want it to be a worldleading facility. It’s an absolute must for M-sport. I’m a firm believer that if you stand still, you’re dead.”

In addition to the work at the headquarters in Cockermouth, M-sport is also expanding its Polish operation in Krakow with the addition of a new 4000 square-metre building.