Just a note to remind the patriotic among us to cheer on young Matthew...

Yes there is neptism there, but he has got GENUINE talent is a very nice young lad.
I don't think Malcolm was going to put him in a WRC car so quickly..but the rate at which he has developed is amazing...

He has been driving rally cars as long as he could walk (coached at times by Ari Vatenen!) and rallying was his destiny.

He won the Biritsh T car championship in his first year, mainly sideways to the shock of circuit people.

Forget McRae's...get them out of your head..they have had their chance..

Support Matthew...He's not arrogant, he's polite, he has the biggest rally fanatic in the world for a dad...and he's BRITISH.

I know him very well and he would love to see the British Public behind him..

...and good luck Malcolm in retaining some Ford budget! If he can't win it with Ford...he'll win it with Matt!! one day

nah ill support him this weekend - although im not a big shouter or person like that but ill look out for him! if i had one of those air horns then i would blow it for him but i dont so i wont :|

hes only got in cos of his dad, and if his dad was nothing to do with the sport - i doubt he'd be in it - IMO! soz :D

Poor point..poorly made

He is a Rich kid..granted...it takes a lot of money to rally..

If rallying was cheap everyone would be doing it...

...and anyone can with money...

Once he is in (forget money/dad) it is skill from then on in...

As you can imagine, he had the chance of any motorsport genre, and chose rallying over tin top and single seater. As I made the point somewhere else...if he wasn't skilled, he would be in a ford ka with no sponsors...but he is and Malcolm and Eddie Stobart see the potential

If his dad wasn't rich..he wouldn't be in WRC
If his dad was a millionaire, he could buy a 2002 car (£250000) and pay for M-Sport mechanics....Luckily his dad is rich and the boss of M-sport...

Support Matt...why not?? what are you waiting for?,,, a skint kid, with parentage no attached to motorsport in any shape or form, that is at least 28, driving round the Jack Frost single stage event at croft...get a grip

The McRae's also had a thriving family business...funny that eh?...and I wonder if Jimmy used his contacts for Colin and alastair....What do you reckon??

No need to apologise when you are expressing your opinion

woahh! im not after an arguement matey, thats just my opinion - fair enough if you want to support him, but i choose not too!

woahh! im not after an arguement matey, thats just my opinion - fair enough if you want to support him, but i choose not too!

Who's arguing??

Theres always Gwyndaff for you to support...he's got a last minute drive...

He maybe doesn't have a rich dad if your lucky!!

what is your problem mate?

all i said is i dont wish to support a certain driver, and your going off on one!

at the end of the day the drivers would not give two hoots about you or i - so shut up and let people have their own opinions!

Get a grip...it is you that has got involved

Matthew is a friend of mine and I am making people aware of him, as his name is down the entry list...

Your right, if you don't have valid or constructive posts...who's going to listen to you, and telling people to shut up because you cannot hold up a discussion does you no credit.

When you have a valid point why not to support someone, I will take you on your merits...

Leave the discussion to grown ups if you can't think of one...

I suggest you don't reply and leave me to support my mate...thanks

fairplay matey, you want to support your mate! But dont start disagreeing with people if they dont wish to follow suit with yourself!

i am now ending this by saying i hope he does well for you sake of supporting him and hope we have resolved our differences with this situation!

http://richardfrancis.fotopic.net/p7596264.html

His co-driver is Scott Martin btw... another top lad....

Good luck lads!!

If anyones going to have the chance to get to the WRC it has to be Matthew. So far this year he's hardly missed an event and had 4 different WRC Focuses for choice plus complete service back up.
Who picks up that bill? Matthew, Daddy or Ford?
Not bad for a 17 year old.

But whether he has that bit "extra" that a top WRC driver needs will remain to be seen.
And now that Ford is pulling the WRC plug, that guaranteed smooth ride to the Focus WRC seat is in doubt.

But I'd like him to do well on his own merit, and a good result this week with an older spec car may be the start.


David

I may be going off the thread a bit here but why doesn't Alistair McRae get a regular WRC drive!! I sometimes hear off people that he used to be faster that his Brother at one time??

WGR

I may be going off the thread a bit here but why doesn't Alistair McRae get a regular WRC drive!! I sometimes hear off people that he used to be faster that his Brother at one time??

WGR

There is a reason for the likes of Mark Higgins and Alastair not getting full time WRC drives...and it comes down to sheer talent I 'm afraid.

Mark Higgins knows the Focus better than anyone (Test Driver) and they only allow him the Rally GB event..

....He COULD....(note not will) produce a good result

Mica

You're spot on about Matthew. Met him on the Isle of man this year and anyone who knows the BRC well knows that is an extremely demanding event yet Matt handled it brilliantly.

Last year on the manx we were told by a dear friend of ours to look out for this boy Matt Wilson - he was 16 and was already faster than professionals he had taken on in tests. Now here just one year later we are looking at Matt driving a WRC car with full backing.

Yes his interest in rallying came from his dad BUT as you say Mica he has to have that talent there to succeed!

Good luck Matt and Scott!!

DR MOTORSPORT

If anyones going to have the chance to get to the WRC it has to be Matthew. So far this year he's hardly missed an event and had 4 different WRC Focuses for choice plus complete service back up.
Who picks up that bill? Matthew, Daddy or Ford?
Not bad for a 17 year old.

IT LOOKS LIKE EDDIE STOBARTS ARE FOOTING BILLS AT THE MOMENT, IT'S DAD WHO RISK'S HIS CARS WHEN HIS SON TAKES THEM OUT, THAT IS HIS MAIN FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, THE CAR HE HAS BEEN USING RECENTLY IS OWNED BY STOBBARTS! SO LESS WORRY FOR MALCOLM.
FORD PUT NO MONEY IN
3 FOCUSES... A 1999 SHED, A 2001 M-SPORT CAR AND A STOBBART 2002 CAR. SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE FORD TEAM GIVING UP WEEKENDS..AND DOM BUCKLEY MOTORSPORT

And now that Ford is pulling the WRC plug, that guaranteed smooth ride to the Focus WRC seat is in doubt.

NOT CONFIRMED, IF HE IS THAT GOOD,HE WON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT FORD!!... M-SPORT- RENAULT / SUZUKI WRC...ENUFF SAID?????

But I'd like him to do well on his own merit, and a good result this week with an older spec car may be the start.

A 2002 CAR COULD DO VERY WELL, HE NEEDS TO DRIVE STEADY THOUGH..

The Stobbart sponsorship hasn't been going all year, more or less just since the Summer.
He also used a 2003/4 WRC car on an event in Ireland a couple of months back.

Only gripe I had a few years back was the **** way Mark Higgins was treated to by Ford / M sport. Getting a drive not getting a drive - and that's when there was money to splash about. Harder times now, but no shortage of entries for Matthew.

Anyway, that was a few years ago. And today with 1 stage still to go, Matthew is 20th in Rally GB. Not sure how he's doing compared to other 2002 spec cars, but doing not bad so far. No point in comparing him with the top guys, as they're already 10 minutes ahead.


David

There is a reason for the likes of Mark Higgins and Alastair not getting full time WRC drives...and it comes down to sheer talent I 'm afraid.

Mark Higgins knows the Focus better than anyone (Test Driver) and they only allow him the Rally GB event..

....He COULD....(note not will) produce a good result

Can I just say that Alister is talented and it's a fact that manufacturers in the past have not given him a drive because he's Colin's brother.

Can I just say that Alister is talented and it's a fact that manufacturers in the past have not given him a drive because he's Colin's brother.
What influende does Colin have on it as per what you said?

I'm just interested thats all?

Do you reckon Colin will be back?

What influende does Colin have on it as per what you said?

I'm just interested thats all?

Do you reckon Colin will be back?

It wasn't Colin's influence as such, the team (don't remember which one now) just admitted to not signing Alister because of his family connections, and more or less said he had the talent - I know it's a stupid reason, but that's what I remember happening a couple of years ago. It was possibly because they didn't want the speculation that they'd signed him because he was Colin's brother - I don't remember the details.

As for Colin coming back to the WRC, he's talking to teams, and I hope he does, but I'm not too sure - there's a lot of new talent coming through at the moment but I really want Colin to come back and show them all that he can still be the best.

It wasn't Colin's influence as such, the team (don't remember which one now) just admitted to not signing Alister because of his family connections, and more or less said he had the talent - I know it's a stupid reason, but that's what I remember happening a couple of years ago. It was possibly because they didn't want the speculation that they'd signed him because he was Colin's brother - I don't remember the details.

As for Colin coming back to the WRC, he's talking to teams, and I hope he does, but I'm not too sure - there's a lot of new talent coming through at the moment but I really want Colin to come back and show them all that he can still be the best.
Yes when Colin is in the WRC GB the old magic is there!! Colin is great and Burnsie is brill to watch, I hope he gets back into the rallies! But as you say there ius talent coming thru!! Its a shame that a lot of British teams have foriegn drivers, but good luck to them!!

I wonder if Mark Higgins would get into the top 3 if he was driving a 2004 Focus WRC now that would be interesting.

All the best

WGR

im not going to get into an argument but next year ill be supporting both drivers especially if they are both driving focuses again "i.e" matt n mark i watched matt do the s/s earlier n considering he had never done it b4 he did great if i dont care if his dad puts money in the guy is good n thats what matters more than anything else

The team not employing alastair....sounds like a very easy excuse that one...

Oh...were not employing you ...mmm...because....mmm....oh yeah, your brothers in the team....phew!!

Well done Matthew and Scott!!

He showed the maturity of a experienced driver, smooth controlled power like the top boys....

It only gets better from here!

Go Matt!!

he is a good driver,but lets just see how he gets on!!...i feel he needs to get there the proper way,not a free ride.he is worthy of a wrc drive in a proper WRC car in a proper WRC team....lets watch and see for the what happens!!!
Tez

he is a good driver,but lets just see how he gets on!!...i feel he needs to get there the proper way,not a free ride.he is worthy of a wrc drive in a proper WRC car in a proper WRC team....lets watch and see for the what happens!!!
Tez

Why are you so hung up on ' the proper way'

A start in rallying doesn't come down to sponsorship, you have to be rich to start... and it takes some of us a long time to become rich enough to do it..
Others are luckier

Matt has won the UK T-Car championship and competed in Formula Renault..

He has already proven talent..

If Malcolm didn't think he was capable of driving the focus, he would be in a Ka...I promise you, he is not daft...Watch Mr Wilson, if he sticks him in a 03 car next year...Malcolm is sure of his skill
(The best spotter of talent in WRC ...Petter, Markko, Mikko, Jari Matti, Francois, Mark H...etc...)

Yeah, We'll wait and see...but don't get hung up too much on the 'proper' way, and just support a young talented BRITISH driver...He got further than Mrs Miggins in the same car, and finished ahead of Alastair

( I do accept that Young McRae was in group N, but if he was as much better as you suggest, he could of whipped a 17 year olds ass in any car!)

Cheers!