WILSON TIPPED FOR HONOURS
M-sport team principal Malcolm Wilson admits he has been ‘humbled’ by a campaign to place him on the New Year Honours list for a Knighthood and his team in the running for the BBC’S Sports Personality of the Year.
Wilson’s local member of parliament Sue Hayman told Motorsport News she was backing local support to achieve greater recognition for Wilson and his Cumbrian firm.
Hayman said: “Malcolm is so well known in the area and what he has achieved is quite extraordinary [winning the two world titles]. To set up a very, very successful business and team in west Cumbria is something everybody at M-sport can be proud of. But what Malcolm has done is shown that there’s more to Cumbria than just the Lake District; he has shown we’re about innovation, extraordinary ability and tremendous skill sets. I understand there is local support for Malcolm’s name being put forward to the honours list and that’s something I will be supporting wholeheartedly.
“On top of that we are also pushing the BBC to ensure M-sport’s inclusion in Sports Personality of the Year for team of the year. Motorsport doesn’t get the recognition it deserves and Malcolm and M-sport really do deserve it.”
Wilson, who was awarded an OBE in 2009, said: “I’ve been amazed at the stuff that’s been going on locally. You know how I feel about this sport and this area, they are both very close to my heart. It’s so important to me to be able to go around the world and show off what we can do here in beautiful Cumbria.
“I’m flattered by what’s going on and, it goes without saying that it would be an incredible honour to be recognised in that way. But that’s not why I do it. Like everybody in the team, I’m driven by competition and the desire to succeed.”