Dovenby-based M-Sport has been named among Cumbria Chamber of Commerce’s 25 Business Heroes, marking the Chamber’s 25th anniversary and celebrating some of the businesses that have helped shape Cumbria’s economy and communities.
The campaign shines a spotlight on Chamber members from across the county. While it is not intended to be a definitive list, the initiative celebrates a selection of the many businesses making a positive contribution to Cumbria.
From a small motorsport business founded by rally driver Malcolm Wilson OBE to an international motorsport engineering company, M-Sport’s story spans almost five decades and demonstrates how world-class engineering and innovation can be developed in Cumbria.
M-Sport’s journey began in 1979, when Malcolm Wilson founded Malcolm Wilson Motorsport following a successful career in rallying. The business became known as M-Sport in 1996, before moving to its current home at Dovenby Hall in 2000.
Today, M-Sport operates at the highest levels of international motorsport, competing in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Rallying sees drivers and co-drivers compete against the clock across closed road stages, with events spanning a wide range of surfaces and conditions. Rally-Raid takes this challenge further, with competitors covering hundreds of kilometres across demanding off-road terrain, including the iconic Dakar Rally.
M-Sport specialises in the design, development, manufacture and operation of high-performance rally and racing vehicles. Its work takes the expertise developed in Cumbria onto some of the biggest stages in international motorsport, while its customer programmes see M-Sport-built vehicles competing in championships around the world.
A key part of M-Sport’s Dovenby operation is its 2.5km M-Sport Evaluation Centre test track, which was completed in 2017, with the wider Evaluation Centre building opening in January 2021. Having a dedicated test track on site allows engineers to test vehicles in controlled conditions, identify and resolve issues quickly, and continually develop performance before cars reach competition.
While M-Sport has enjoyed success on the world stage, the company believes its greatest achievement is its people. With approximately 250 staff based at Dovenby, the business brings together engineers, technicians, manufacturing specialists, logistics, administration and support teams, all working collaboratively towards the same goal.
That teamwork is often most visible during competition. At Rally Finland, one of the fastest and most demanding events on the World Rally Championship calendar, the team demonstrated its ability to respond quickly and effectively when Mārtiņš Sesks’ car required significant repairs. Working together across the team, engineers and technicians assessed the car, organised the required parts and carried out the work within an incredibly tight timeframe of four hours. The car was returned to competition, showcasing the expertise, resilience and collaborative approach that underpin M-Sport’s operations at every event.
That same expertise was demonstrated at the 2026 Dakar Rally, one of the world’s toughest off-road endurance events, held across the deserts of Saudi Arabia. The Ford M-Sport Rally-Raid team delivered an impressive result, securing second, third and fifth place finishes after months of preparation and development by the team at Dovenby.
M-Sport has also strengthened its wider engineering capabilities through the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Custom Cages Limited, a leading UK manufacturer of roll-cage kits and a long-standing M-Sport supplier. The acquisition further strengthens the relationship between two specialist engineering businesses with deep roots in UK motorsport.
M-Sport remains closely connected to its local community. Its staff-led Work Culture Team organises events and activities throughout the year, while Dovenby Hall Estate is also home to a number of other businesses and companies.
M-Sport’s commitment to its local community was also demonstrated this summer when the company hosted its annual 5K race on the Evaluation Centre test track, alongside a children’s race. The event attracted more than 300 participants and spectators and raised over £2,000 for charity, supporting Mountain Rescue, Brake and The Multiple System Atrophy Trust. Over the years, M-Sport has also raised more than £20,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Looking ahead, M-Sport is preparing for the introduction of new WRC regulations in 2027, while its Rally-Raid programme is preparing for a return to Dakar with Ford Racing, with the ultimate goal of fighting for victory. Alongside its motorsport programmes, the business continues to invest in its wider operations, including work towards ISO 9001 certification and FIA Environmental Accreditation.
From its beginnings as a small Cumbrian motorsport business to its role on the world stage, M-Sport continues to grow while maintaining strong links to the people, businesses and community around its Dovenby home.
