Rediscovering the Lake District’s Thrilling Drives: A Rally Legend’s Perspective
The Lake District, a jewel of the United Kingdom, offers a tapestry of landscapes that have captivated visitors for generations. Renowned for its dramatic fells, shimmering lakes, and ancient woodlands, it’s also a place where driving enthusiasts can find exhilarating routes that demand skill and reward with breathtaking vistas. This year, as we navigate the early months of 2025, a unique opportunity arose to explore these hallowed driving grounds, not with the usual tourist throng, but alongside a true titan of motorsport. We embarked on a journey with Malcolm Wilson OBE, a name synonymous with British rallying success, to uncover the secrets of the Lake District’s most celebrated roads.
Our curated selection of performance vehicles perfectly mirrored the diverse character of the region: a commanding Aston Martin DBX S, boasting a formidable 717 horsepower; the nimble and rally-bred Toyota GR Yaris, offering 276 horsepower of pure driving engagement; and a revered classic, the 217 horsepower 1989 Audi Quattro 20v. This exceptional trio, paired with three eager drivers, provided the ideal platform to appreciate the nuanced demands of these iconic routes.
It’s an understatement to say that Malcolm Wilson is a man of considerable influence and a demanding schedule. His career trajectory from a championship-winning rally driver to the helm of M-Sport, a global leader in motorsport engineering, and now as FIA Deputy President for Sport, is nothing short of extraordinary. Yet, the allure of the Lake District’s finest driving roads, combined with a potent mix of automotive machinery, proved irresistible. During a recent conversation at M-Sport’s headquarters in Dovenby Hall, Cumbria, a spark of curiosity was ignited. The prospect of piloting the very Aston Martin DBX S that shares its lineage with his personal DBX 707, a vehicle he cherishes, was a significant draw. Furthermore, the road-going iteration of the Toyota GR Yaris, a car his team has contended with in the World Rally Championship, held a unique appeal.
The Audi Quattro, while perhaps a more impromptu addition to our convoy, held an unexpected magnetic pull for Malcolm. Even after a brief period of slumber requiring a gentle jump-start – a testament to its classic status – he gravitated towards it, claiming the driver’s seat with an air of quiet anticipation. His son, Matthew Wilson, a formidable rally driver in his own right and team principal for M-Sport’s Dakar efforts, and I exchanged knowing glances, a shared understanding of a petrolhead’s primal instinct. The remaining automotive contenders were ours to explore. Our collective mission: to chart a course through the Lake District’s most cherished driving experiences, guided by the intimate knowledge of its most esteemed petrolheads.
While Autocar’s extensive reach takes us to every corner of the automotive world, ventures into the Lake District are relatively infrequent. However, recent road testing assignments have served to rekindle our appreciation for its unique driving character. This is a region where local expertise is not merely beneficial; it is essential for navigating its intricate network of roads, especially when seeking to avoid the predictable congestion of peak tourist seasons.
Our journey commenced at Dovenby Hall, the nerve centre of M-Sport. Even before the tarmac truly began to twist and turn, the Audi Quattro 20v, under Malcolm’s enthusiastic command, set a spirited pace. Its distinctive rumble and agile demeanour immediately conveyed a sense of purpose. As we traversed the charming streets of Cockermouth, Malcolm, a figure clearly held in high local regard, wound down the windows, offering warm greetings to familiar faces. The sight of the iconic Quattro, a machine steeped in rallying history, brought smiles all around, underscoring his enduring connection to the community, a sentiment perhaps not always appreciated by those who have voiced objections to M-Sport’s expansive facilities.
Leaving the town’s embrace, our route truly began to unfold. We ventured south, passing through the picturesque hamlet of Brackenthwaite, before the road began its seductive dance alongside the imposing flank of Grasmoor and the serene waters of Crummock Water. As the tarmac began to weave and undulate, the landscape transformed into a symphony of autumnal hues. The fallen leaves, still vibrant in their golden and emerald shades, formed thick carpets along the verges. Piloting the substantial Aston Martin DBX S, a heightened sense of spatial awareness became second nature, particularly when navigating the narrower sections and encountering oncoming traffic. It was clear that Malcolm and Matthew, leading the charge in their chosen steeds, were relishing the unadulterated joy of the drive. My own experience, however, was punctuated by the deep, resonant soundtrack of the DBX S’s V8 engine, a captivating auditory experience in itself.
The ascent towards Honister Pass presented a dramatic shift in scenery. Even under a damp, November sky, the vista was nothing short of spectacular, evoking images from a fantasy epic. Rain cascaded down the steepest sections of the road, carving ephemeral streams, while colossal boulders, as if scattered by giants, lay strewn across the valley floor. At the summit, the weathered entrance to an old slate mine, now ingeniously transformed into the Sky High Cafe, stood as a proud sentinel.
“We wouldn’t be here if it were peak tourist season,” Matthew explained, as he expertly ordered our coffees. Honister Pass, he elaborated, transforms into a bustling hub for cyclists and mountain bikers during busier periods, its narrow, serpentine nature then becoming a considerable challenge. However, with careful timing, it offers an unforgettable driving experience.
During our brief respite, Malcolm recounted a childhood memory of collecting slate for his family’s fireplace, a task undertaken with his father when he was just seven years old. He vividly recalled the advice given: “They told my dad to keep the sliding doors of the van wedged open as we drove down, so we could dive out if the brakes failed!” This anecdote served as a potent reminder of the raw, untamed spirit that once defined these routes.
With a hint of reluctance, Malcolm relinquished the Audi’s driver’s seat. He reminisced about his days with Audi Sport in the 1980s, owning two Quattro road cars. “But they weren’t 20-valves like this,” he mused. “They had a lot more turbo lag; the power was very much on or off, and you really had to wait for it. This one is so much better.” This sentiment echoed the enduring appeal of well-engineered machinery, where even decades-old designs can still offer a compelling driving experience.
Our next leg saw a carefully orchestrated driver swap. Malcolm took the helm of the Aston Martin DBX S, Matthew assumed command of the Audi, and I had the distinct pleasure of guiding the Toyota GR Yaris. We descended the eastern flank of Honister Pass towards Seatoller. Here, the road widened, and the gradients and radii became more forgiving, allowing for a more fluid and spirited pace. We continued our journey through Borrowdale, tracing the course of the River Derwent northward. The panoramic views from the windscreen remained nothing short of epic, with the majestic peak of Scafell Pike a constant, awe-inspiring presence to our driver’s side.
The landscape, however, was about to transform once more. The charming town centre of Keswick receded in our mirrors, and we pressed on past Bassenthwaite Lake and Dodd Wood. A turn north-east at the lake’s northern tip directed us towards Uldale and Caldbeck. This stretch revealed a more rugged, moorland character. The ubiquitous tourist traffic vanished, replaced by long, sweeping straights and well-sighted crests that beckoned for confident acceleration. The road offered a freedom and emptiness that suggested it was a familiar testing ground for Malcolm, evident in the subtle, yet decisive, increase in his pace. It was as if he possessed an innate understanding of when the risk of encountering slow-moving farm vehicles or family cars was virtually eliminated. Here, fast, cambered corners and undulating gradients provided a constant, exhilarating challenge. He later confessed that this very route serves as his preferred conduit to the M6 motorway to the east, a strategic bypass of the often-congested A66.
Following a few exhilarating, albeit briefly blurry, miles, we pulled into a spacious gravel car park. Another driver exchange took place, followed by a second, allowing us to consolidate our impressions of each vehicle. Malcolm, ever the astute observer, expressed profound admiration for the Aston Martin DBX S, particularly marvelling at how such a substantial, powerful machine could be engineered to feel so incredibly benign and effortlessly manageable. He also lauded the Toyota GR Yaris, delighting in its inherent fun-to-drive character. However, he did voice a slight reservation regarding the car’s deluge of information and electronic ostentation, questioning the necessity for such a constant stream of data for the driver.
Both Wilsons, however, reserved their highest praise for the Audi Quattro. They were astounded by how its performance envelope, even by today’s elevated standards, felt so perfectly calibrated for road driving. The way it progressively built grip, offered intuitive steering feedback, and delivered a ride and handling balance that felt remarkably cohesive when a judicious amount of speed was applied, was a revelation. Compared to the increasingly detached nature of some modern performance cars, the Quattro’s palpable sense of connection to the road was something truly special.
Our expedition concluded with a relatively short drive back to M-Sport, a fulfilling end to a day spent not just exploring exceptional roads, but also rediscovering the pure, unadulterated joy of driving with a true legend. Neither Malcolm nor Matthew seemed to begrudge the hours spent as impromptu tour guides, their passion for the automotive world and the Lake District’s driving heritage shining through.
For those seeking to experience the Lake District’s dynamic driving potential firsthand, whether in a high-performance SUV, a compact hot hatch, or a classic rally icon, understanding these routes and their nuances is key. Planning your visit during the shoulder seasons or weekdays can significantly enhance the experience, offering more open roads and fewer distractions. If you’re looking to explore the thrill of driving in the Lake District or seeking expert advice on performance vehicles for such adventures, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let us help you discover your own unforgettable driving story amidst these magnificent landscapes.
