Incorrect car set-up hampers Wilson's progress

After a frustrating day in his Ford Focus, Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Team driver Matthew Wilson ended the first day of competition in Sardinia in 14th place.

Wilson made a slow start to the rally and struggled to break into the top 15 stage times on the morning’s three tests. At the midday service his team diagnosed an incorrect setup to his Focus RS WRC07 and after making some adjustments - and repairing a brake fault picked up on SS2 - the 21-year-old’s pace improved on the afternoon’s repeated stages.

“I just didn’t have the feeling this morning and the car was very unpredictable,” said Wilson. “We made some changes in service to the setup of the car which helped massively and my confidence was much higher in the afternoon. It was a really good improvement on the afternoon stages and it all felt a lot better than the morning loop. We had a small issue with the brakes which hopefully we can resolve tonight and the plan is to continue to improve tomorrow and over the rest of the rally.”