Visit/Tour of M-Sport (Cumbria)
Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2024 3:35 pm
Had a truly superb visit to M-Sport (previously Malcolm Wilson Motorsport) yesterday, courtesy of the Borders Driving Club - mainly 'cos @scotta wangled a place for himself and another for me. Cheers dude 
https://www.m-sport.co.uk/
What. A. Facility
Scott got separated from the convoying group at the last minute and had to rush in to catch the start. He claims he parked next to Mr Wilson's marked spot in the car park, but I am pretty sure he was parked in it.
Most of the tour was strictly "no cameras" as you would imagine, but it was pretty much "access all areas" (excluding zones locating vehicles/developments that Joseph Public hadn't seen yet). A day of truly awesome insights and technical "wows". Board room had enough trophies to choke the entire Grand National field.
Everywhere was super clean. No car gets inside without going through a multi-stage wash cycle.
Way too much to relay accurately here - the tour was very well pitched for anyone with a decent understanding of engines/diffs/suspension etc - our guide was knowledgeable about the technology, the facility, the cars, and organisational/operational elements for the rallies. The on-stage support truck equipped with a row of tents fixed to the roof looked great, but "yeah - a bit challenging when you need a pee half way through the night though".
Detailed insights into the various Fiesta and Puma 2wd/4wd offerings, with their respective transmissions, Engines, Suspension, and a walk through of the build-up of the shells. The latter arrive unpainted, and usually sit outside for a few weeks before they start the line - showing obvious signs of rust. Matters not so much when you are keeping so little. The cages are in-house designs and pieces of art in their own rights. Perfect welds as you might imagine. Ford Ranger rally-raid spaceframe undergoing manufacture - even the jig to do so was fascinating.
M-Sport developed the Bentley GT3's, and there were several in to poke around. They took a 2500kg road design and created a 1200kg racer. So many details. So much want to have a shot.
Huge CNC machines cutting parts that look like castings, but are actually cut from billet.
Scott noticed towards the end that there were no 2/4 post ramps anywhere. Cars without wheels were on stands (the type that go into the sills). Guide advised that they do this to ensure everything that needs to be worked on when they are off site (without ramps/pits obvs) can be, and that techs are used to doing so on cars on stands only.
Test track is new at approx 2yrs old. Looked awesome.
FInal stage of the tour was of Mr Wilson's personal collection (plus a few cars owned by some of his drivers etc). With his links to Ford, there were multiple Ford GT's (one 2004-ish, and the others the newer cars, with one of the 50-off Carbon editions which was stunning. Weave of the carbon running seamlessly across door handles, fuel hatch etc. Want. Minty RS500. Another Conti GT3. The only remaining road-version of the RS1700T remaining (the RWD mk3 Escort that was intended to replace the Mk2, but killed off by the Quattro) etc etc.
Well worth a visit if you get the chance.
Will add some pics laterz. (Any good ones were undoubtedly those sent to me by Scott as opposed to mine).
https://www.m-sport.co.uk/
What. A. Facility
Scott got separated from the convoying group at the last minute and had to rush in to catch the start. He claims he parked next to Mr Wilson's marked spot in the car park, but I am pretty sure he was parked in it.
Most of the tour was strictly "no cameras" as you would imagine, but it was pretty much "access all areas" (excluding zones locating vehicles/developments that Joseph Public hadn't seen yet). A day of truly awesome insights and technical "wows". Board room had enough trophies to choke the entire Grand National field.
Everywhere was super clean. No car gets inside without going through a multi-stage wash cycle.
Way too much to relay accurately here - the tour was very well pitched for anyone with a decent understanding of engines/diffs/suspension etc - our guide was knowledgeable about the technology, the facility, the cars, and organisational/operational elements for the rallies. The on-stage support truck equipped with a row of tents fixed to the roof looked great, but "yeah - a bit challenging when you need a pee half way through the night though".
Detailed insights into the various Fiesta and Puma 2wd/4wd offerings, with their respective transmissions, Engines, Suspension, and a walk through of the build-up of the shells. The latter arrive unpainted, and usually sit outside for a few weeks before they start the line - showing obvious signs of rust. Matters not so much when you are keeping so little. The cages are in-house designs and pieces of art in their own rights. Perfect welds as you might imagine. Ford Ranger rally-raid spaceframe undergoing manufacture - even the jig to do so was fascinating.
M-Sport developed the Bentley GT3's, and there were several in to poke around. They took a 2500kg road design and created a 1200kg racer. So many details. So much want to have a shot.
Huge CNC machines cutting parts that look like castings, but are actually cut from billet.
Scott noticed towards the end that there were no 2/4 post ramps anywhere. Cars without wheels were on stands (the type that go into the sills). Guide advised that they do this to ensure everything that needs to be worked on when they are off site (without ramps/pits obvs) can be, and that techs are used to doing so on cars on stands only.
Test track is new at approx 2yrs old. Looked awesome.
FInal stage of the tour was of Mr Wilson's personal collection (plus a few cars owned by some of his drivers etc). With his links to Ford, there were multiple Ford GT's (one 2004-ish, and the others the newer cars, with one of the 50-off Carbon editions which was stunning. Weave of the carbon running seamlessly across door handles, fuel hatch etc. Want. Minty RS500. Another Conti GT3. The only remaining road-version of the RS1700T remaining (the RWD mk3 Escort that was intended to replace the Mk2, but killed off by the Quattro) etc etc.
Well worth a visit if you get the chance.
Will add some pics laterz. (Any good ones were undoubtedly those sent to me by Scott as opposed to mine).
) but yeah, seriously - dyor 