Wilson’s pride after Clark win

Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson says he is ‘overjoyed’ at winning the Roger Albert Clark Rally - a four-day British event in the style of the RAC Rally of years gone by. The route for the Roger Albert Clark Rally was an enormous challenge, starting from Leeds, the route went north through Yorkshire and Wilson’s home stages in Cumbria. The crews headed further north to Scotland before a final day in Kielder and the finish in Leeds, four days and 946 miles later (204 of which were competitive). Wilson, who was driving a Ford Escort MkII, said: “I’m absolutely overjoyed. Roger Clark was my hero and to come back and win the rally that carries his name is a real joy. It’s so easy to forget the physical effort required and in the old RAC rallies. I found it really demanding.” Wilson added that he realised how tough the event was going to be after competing on the Colin McRae Stages in a Ford Escort earlier in the season. A puncture ruled him out of contention on the Colin McRae Stages, but this time nothing would stand in his way. Wilson, who won the event by more than six minutes, said: “The boys in the team here have done a stunning job. The car was only started on the morning of the rally and it’s run like clockwork with no major problems at all. And I can’t believe I haven’t put a scrape on it either, that’s not like me!” Now, however, Wilson will hang up his crash helmet for the time being and focus on capturing a third consecutive World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title for the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team on the forthcoming final round of the WRC, Wales Rally GB.