Matthew Wilson Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Matthew Wilson
Personal information
Matthew Wilson at 2017 Wales Rally GB
Nationality	British
Born	(1987-01-29) 29 January 1987 (age 38)
World Rally Championship record
Active years	2004–2014, 2017
Co-driver	Scott Martin Michael Orr Giovanni Bernacchini Stuart Loudon
Teams	Stobart Ford
Rallies	92
Championships	0
Rally wins	0
Podiums	0
Stage wins	3
Total points	196
First rally	2004 Wales Rally GB
Last rally	2017 Wales Rally GB

Matthew James Wilson (born on January 29, 1987) is a British rally driver. He comes from Cockermouth in Cumbria, England. Matthew is the son of Malcolm Wilson, who used to be a rally driver himself and now leads the M-Sport team. Matthew Wilson competed in the World Rally Championship (WRC) for the Stobart M-Sport Ford team. His best finish was fourth place at the 2007 Rally Japan.

Matthew Wilson's Rally Journey
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Matthew Wilson's Rally Journey

Starting His Rally Career

Matthew Wilson driving a Ford Focus RS WRC 02 in Finland in 2005.

Matthew Wilson first raced in special single-seater cars. He won 17 out of 22 races to become the T Cars Champion in 2002. After that, he moved to the Formula Renault UK Championship in 2003.

His first rally event was the 2003 Malcolm Wilson Rally. He was the co-driver for his father, and they won the race together! Matthew's first big WRC event was the Wales Rally GB in 2004. He finished in 13th place overall.

In 2005, Matthew was chosen for a special training program for young British rally drivers. That same year, he became the youngest person ever to win a round of the British Rally Championship. He won the Trackrod Rally when he was just 18 years old.

However, in April 2005, Matthew had an accident during the Rally of Wales. He broke his right wrist and left forearm. His co-driver, Scott Martin, also broke his left leg.

Matthew returned to rallying four months later. He finished second in the Gleanor Speyside Stages Rally. Even with his injury, he still ended up seventh overall in the 2005 British Rally Championship. In 2005, he also won the Malcolm Wilson Rally and the McRae Stages Rally. He also won the first-ever Rally Ireland.

Racing with Stobart Ford (2006–2011)

Matthew Wilson at the 2006 Cyprus Rally.

The year 2006 was Matthew Wilson's first full season in the WRC. He drove for the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team. He raced in all 16 rallies that year. He became the youngest WRC driver to win a special stage (a short, fast part of a rally). He also scored championship points for the first time. He finished eighth overall at the 2006 Rally Argentina. This record was later broken by another driver, Andreas Mikkelsen.

Matthew's father, Malcolm Wilson, had a five-year plan for Matthew's rally career. The plan was for Matthew to learn and finish every rally in 2006. In 2007, other drivers were chosen to score points for the team, which took some pressure off Matthew. He finished eleventh in the drivers' championship with eleven points. His best result that year was fourth place at the 2007 Rally Japan.

Matthew Wilson driving during the 2007 Rally Japan.

The 2008 season started with a "moderate" result for Matthew. He finished tenth in Monte Carlo. He had to get used to a new car, new tires, and a new-old co-driver, Scott Martin. In Sweden, he had mechanical problems and had to stop racing. He scored his first points of the season in Mexico by finishing sixth.

In September 2008, Matthew Wilson won the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally. This event was held to remember Colin McRae, a famous rally driver who passed away in 2007.

Matthew Wilson during the 2010 Rally Finland.

Matthew continued to compete with Stobart Ford until 2011. He consistently finished in the top 10 in many rallies. In 2009, he finished seventh in the championship with 28 points. In 2010 and 2011, he also finished seventh in the championship, scoring 74 and 63 points respectively. His best result in 2011 was fourth place at the 2011 Rally Australia.

Go Fast Energy and Return to Wales Rally GB (2012)

In 2012, Matthew Wilson joined a private team called Go Fast Energy World Rally Team. He drove a Ford Fiesta RS WRC. He finished 11th in the first race of the season in Monte Carlo. However, he then broke his ankle during training. This injury made him miss several races.

Later in 2012, Matthew got money from companies in Cumbria to enter the 2012 Wales Rally GB. He drove his M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC with a new look. He stayed in 9th place for most of the rally and then moved up to 8th place. He finished 8th overall, earning his first championship points (4 points) for 2012.