M-SPORT SUPPORT NATIONAL MOTORSPORT WEEK WITH OPEN DAY

News release from M-Sport

M-Sport will support this year’s National Motorsport week by hosting an exclusive open day on Monday 27th June, 2011, which will include guided tours, competitions and a talk from Ford Team Principal Malcolm Wilson.

The initiative, led by MSA and MIA, will allow the public to get close to Ford’s new Fiesta RS WRC and see what life in the busy world of motorsport is really like. The day is designed to bring fans as close to the sport as possible, by sharing M-Sport’s passion for rallying. It will be packed full of activities and there will also be a chance to win a team jacket signed by Ford Abu Dhabi drivers’ Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala.

The open day will begin with a behind the scenes guided tour round M-Sport’s main hall and state-of-the-art workshop where visitors will get a chance to meet some of the team’s experienced mechanics and engineers.

Visitors will also then get a chance to see M-Sport’s collection of historic Ford cars driven by some of rallying’s greatest stars including Colin McRae, Jari-Matti Latvala, Francois Delecour and Malcolm Wilson. They will also have the chance to get their photo taken in Ford’s new Fiesta RS WRC – the car that took a podium clean sweep at its debut in Rally Sweden earlier this year.

On the day, visitors will also meet Ford Team Principal Malcolm Wilson who will give a small talk to the visitors in the room which encloses the team's trophy collection and famous memorabilia.

There will also be a competition for visitors to test their skills behind the wheel of the Ford Focus RS WRC rally simulator where the fastest time will win a team jacket signed by the Ford Abu Dhabi drivers.

At the end, individuals can visit M-Sport’s merchandise shop to purchase gifts for friends and family at special discounted rates for the day.

To apply for tickets, please e-mail enquiries@m-sport.co.uk for a booking form. Tour time slots available are 11am and 2pm.  When people make their booking, M-Sport will do their best to ensure that individuals are booked on your first choice time slot. However, please note that this is subject to change, as tours will be allocated on a first-come/first-served basis. Ticket prices are £10 each and all profits will go to the Motorsport Foundation.

All tickets purchased will automatically enter a competition to win a Ford Abu Dhabi team shirt signed by Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala.


M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said:
“Each year motorsport contributes six billion pounds to the British economy and employs over 40,000 skilled people throughout the country – as an industry and a sport, it is one of the country’s proudest and enduring success stories.  I’m an MIA board member and when I heard that they were supporting this year’s National Motorsport Week, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to ensure M-Sport’s involvement in this fantastic initiative. We are always keen to raise the awareness of rallying - and motorsport as a whole - as it is a genuine UK success story to be proud of.  The team are looking forward to opening our doors to the public and I look forward to meeting everyone personally on the day.”