WILSON: THIS IS THE HARDEST FIGHT YET
M-sport boss says 2018 show down will bean epic
Malcolm Wilson’s seen more than his fair share of close finishes in the World Rally Championship, but the Cumbrian insists this is the tightest he’s ever known.
Wilson’s M-sport squad has been involved in every final-round finish since an epic four-way shoot-out for the 2001 crown, which included two of his drivers: Colin Mcrae and Carlos Sainz. Since then Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen took Sebastien Loeb to the wire in 2007 and 2009 respectively, with both Finns driving Ford Focus RS WRCS.
“This is the most exciting yet,” Wilson told Motorsport News. “That 2001 fight was tense, but this one’s even more so. It’s incredible – what a way for us to end our time with Sebastien [Ogier] and [co-driver] Julien Ingrassia.”
Wilson wasted no time in praising the Frenchmen for keeping the title fight alive this long.
He added: “I have to say, in the last two rallies in Wales Rally GB and in Spain, on the final morning of both of those rallies, I was really thinking we were completely on the back foot. I really don’t think there’s another driver around who could come back in the way that Seb has done.
“I’ve never seen such mental strength or an approach that’s so incredibly complete in every single possible direction. He and Julien do everything – and I mean absolutely every single thing – to get every bit of performance they can. Genuinely, I’ve never seen anything like them before and don’t forget, we’ve had Carlos Sainz through our doors! When I look back now at Spain and Wales, I just have to look back and marvel about what those boys did to get back into the lead of the championship.
“One thing is for sure, we will really miss the pair of them when they go.”
Predictably, Wilson’s squad is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations for Rally Australia – which includes sacrificing its own hopes of back-to-back manufacturer championships.
M-sport is third in the standings, 25 points behind series leader Toyota Gazoo Racing and 13 down on second-placed Hyundai – but Wilson has written-off his title aspirations.
“As far as we’re concerned, the manufacturers’ is gone,” said Wilson, “we’re putting every resource and everything we have into keeping the drivers’ championship. That’s where all of our efforts are focused now.”
Much as Wilson is focused on the task in hand, the Briton has been quick to praise the health of the World Rally Championship.
“The sport is in better shape now than it’s ever been,” he said. “Look how close the competition is, that’s thanks to the great regulations we’ve got – for the second season every one of the manufacturers has won at the highest level. I’ve never known the competition to be so close.”
Wilson’s opposite number at Hyundai Michel Nandan echoed that sentiment, saying: “What a season finale this promises to be. After 12 rounds, we head to Australia with both titles wide open.”
Nandan is, however, painfully aware that his Alzenau-based squad’s troubled second half of the season hasn’t just hit Thierry Neuville’s title hopes. At the season’s mid-point in Italy, and following the i20 Coupe WRC’S third win, Hyundai was 28 points ahead of its nearest rival M-sport. The South Korean firm topped the manufacturers’ title race for eight successive events before Toyota surged past on the wave of speed created by Ott Tanak. The Japanese manufacturer elbowed its way to the top after the Estonian’s fourth straight win in Turkey and has remained there ever since.
Nandan said: “We know we have let our grasp of the titles loose over recent rallies, but at the same time we remain as determined as ever to secure a maiden WRC title for Hyundai. It won’t be easy: all four manufacturers will be fighting for victory and aiming to finish the season on a high, so it looks set to be a fierce contest – arguably the ideal way to end what has been a truly fascinating season. May the best team and crew win.”
Subaru’s return to the World Rally Championship is still under question