ALittle

Last updated 01:00, Thursday, 19 July 2007

By Amanda Little

CUMBRIAN rally star Matthew Wilson will be put through his paces tomorrow when he teams up with Carlisle United for a special training session.

The 20-year-old driver, right, from Cockermouth, is gearing up for the second half of the World Rally Championship programme which restarts in Finland on August 3 and will spend tomorrow morning training with United to help improve his fitness.

Wilson – the only British driver contesting all 16 rounds of the WRC – keeps an eye on United’s fortunes even when he’s competing in events in far-flung places like New Zealand, Japan, Mexico and Argentina.

While the Blues are preparing for the big kick-off against Walsall on Saturday August 11, being in peak condition for his own return to action is also essential for Wilson, who is 14th in the drivers’ championship.

“Fitness is really important to rally drivers,” he said.

“The Acropolis Rally in Greece was a classic example as we drove a 50km stage with temperatures in the car reaching up to 60C.

“You’re sweating a lot in those conditions but you need to stay focused, so the fitter you are, the better. It gives you the edge over drivers who are feeling the strain towards the end of a stage.

“I’m not sure what United have in store for me, so it’s a good job I’ve been keeping fit over the summer.”

Wilson, the son of Ford World Rally team boss Malcolm Wilson, rarely gets to watch United these days – but he shares the club’s sponsors as he drives for the Stobart Motorsport team.

“I haven’t been to see many of their games but I always check Teletext for their result on a Saturday,” he said.

“I played football at school and had a couple of trials for the county but that was as far as I got.”