A double podium at last weekend’s RallyRACC Catalunya – Rally de España has put Cockermouth-based M-Sport within touching distance of securing the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers.

As Sébastien Ogier and Ott Tänak secured second and third places respectively, the team’s closest rivals endured a torrid event, meaning that Malcolm Wilson’s M-Sport operation require just four points to be crowned champions on home soil at Wales Rally GB later this month.

The result also saw the Cumbrian squad extend their year’s podium tally to 16 and remain the only team to have secured a top-three finish at every event contested this season.

Proving to have the strength and the speed, M-Sport are on the verge of a momentous achievement – the privateer team out-classing the might of their fully-manufacturer-backed rivals.

“We might not have taken the win this weekend, but it almost feels that way,” said team principal Malcolm Wilson.

“Another double podium is fantastic, we’ve extended our lead in both championships, and Ott has also moved up to second in the drivers’ standings.

“To have our two drivers leading the way is something we never thought possible, and Elfyn [Evans] too is just one point shy of climbing into the top-five.

“It just goes to show that the whole team has done an incredible job and I think we can look forward to a very special event on home soil in two weeks’ time.”

With the Spanish fixture incorporating both gravel and asphalt stages, M-Sport proved competitive on both but arguably made the difference through Friday’s loose-surface speed tests.

With Ogier running first on the road, and Tänak third, history dictated that they would inevitably lose time sweeping a clean line through the loose terrain.

But the team put all of their vast knowledge and expertise to good use and targeted a push through the pivotal Terra Alta stage.

Consisting of both gravel and asphalt sections, Terra Alta is notoriously hard on tyres and the team implemented their strategy brilliantly – Ogier delivering a masterclass in tyre management to emerge a mere 1.4 seconds adrift of the lead at the end of the day.

As the action turned to asphalt, the team held position as, one by one, all three of their closest rivals sustained damage when cutting corners – a risky business in a desperate attempt to gain time on the M-Sport duo.

With their main rivals lucking out, Ogier and Tänak held position and the stage is set for the Cumbrians to celebrate championship success at Wales Rally GB.

“All we have to do is get one of our cars to the end of the rally,” said Wilson.

“If we can do that, then it’s enough for us to clinch the championship no matter what our rivals do. If we don’t manage that, and if we don’t win the manufacturers’ title, then for sure we don’t deserve it!”

Closer to home, this weekend Cumbria hosts the final round of the Gates Tyres Historic Awards with the Solway Historic and Targa Rallies.

Organised by Wigton Motor Club, the Energus Centre at Lillyhall hosts the start, lunch and finish as well as a number of the 16 tests. A compact route has been devised and a good entry sees crews from all over the north of England and Scotland.

A highlight will be the 1937 Austin 7 of Dave and Pauline Nicholson – the oldest car in the entry which will run as car number one. The Nicholson pairing are joined in the pre-historic class by the Austin A40 and the Triumph TR.

The majority of the historic entries hail from the 1960s and 1970s with Mini Coopers, MG Midgets and Ford Escorts all proving popular.

Hot favourite, however, remains Andy Beaumont and Tom Hutchings with their Sunbeam Rapier.

The Targa rally remains wide open with six crews in with a chance of victory – Chris Hunter and Fiona Tyson arguably the most likely to succeed.

The first test starts at 10am with the final reconvening on Lillyhall at 3.30pm. The awards ceremony will take place in the Energus Centre immediately after the results are declared final.

If that weren’t enough motorsport to be getting on with, the following weekend hosts Wigton Motor Club’s final touring event of the year.

Based around Penrith, the event takes place on Sunday, October 22 and starts at Ullswater Road Garage at 10am – with the lunch halt and finish held at Lowther Castle.

Should you wish to participate, there are a few places left and entry forms can be found at www.wigtonmc.co.uk.