MALCOLM Wilson, the managing director of Cumbrian motorsport firm M-Sport Ltd, has been awarded an OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

The 53-year-old has been honoured for his services to British motorsport which span a 30-year career.

Born and bred in Cumbria, Wilson has stayed true to his roots building Dovenby-based M-Sport from a small home-run business established in 1979 into one of the top motorsport development and engineering firms in the world.

It now employs over 200 people at its state-of-the-art facility just outside Cockermouth.

As a driver, Wilson won two British national titles, competed successfully in the World Rally Championship and worked as a test driver for Ford before winning the British Rally Championship title in 1994.

Since taking over as team principal of Ford’s World Rally Championship team in 1997 he has led them to two Manufacturer Championships and overseen 149 World Rally Championship podium finishes.

Wilson said:"I’ve had many memorable moments in my competitive career and with the Ford World Rally Team but opening the letter informing me of this award definitely surpasses all of those.

"I am immensely honoured to have been recognised in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List and this really is the biggest achievement in my career."