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M-Sport Member Spotlight

Josh Harbour 

Josh Harbour, a systems engineer at M-Sport, has worked on various projects throughout the years but now focuses on the Dakar Rally project. Find out more about his experience in Saudi Arabia.

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How long have you been at M-Sport and what role did you begin in?

I started in May 2016, so I’ve been here for nearly eight years, and it has gone by really quickly. I joined as a Junior Engineer on the Bentley Programme, where I worked for its entire duration until it unfortunately ended due to COVID-19 in 2020. Since then, I have been involved in a variety of roles, including engineering, strategy, data engineering, race engineering, customer support engineering, and electronics.

After the Bentley Programme, I transitioned to the Puma project in the World Rally Championship (WRC), where I developed all of the electronics. I also served as a rally engineer at selected events, working with Pierre-Louis Loubet and Sébastian Loeb, which was an amazing experience. Following that, I moved on to the Ranger programme. I’ve had quite a varied role, but I’m happy to take on anything, and I appreciate the diverse experiences I’ve gained.

What have been your most memorable moments whilst working at M-Sport?

Dakar has been a significant achievement for me, especially given its recent history. Winning the Bathurst race in 2020 with the Bentley team was also a major highlight. Before I got into rally racing, my experience was primarily in circuit and endurance racing, so securing that victory was truly amazing.

Additionally, winning my first-ever WRC rally with Loeb at Monte-Carlo stands out as another important milestone in my career.

 

Do you attend all rallies, or do you only go to the Dakar Rally now?

At the moment, I am concentrating solely on the Dakar Rally. In 2022, I participated in nearly all the WRC events, and last year I took part in a few events, including Chile, where I assisted with engineering requirements. However, right now, my full attention is on Dakar.

 

Have you got any hobbies outside of work?

I have actually owned quite a few vehicles and have changed them up often because I've had too many. I'm really passionate about mountain biking, which takes up a lot of my time. Outside of work, I also have a strong interest in cars, particularly Japanese models, and I have my own car at home. My parents are originally from North Yorkshire, so I visit that area on weekends. I own an older Nissan because I've been interested in drifting cars for a long time. Recently, I also purchased a van that I plan to convert into a campervan. This will not only serve as my camper but will also be useful for my biking adventures.

 

Now onto the Dakar Rally itself, how did you find the experience and what did you do?

I had the opportunity to drive Gareth’s car, and I absolutely loved it. I see the Dakar Rally as what the World Rally Championship (WRC) was twenty years ago, it's a true adventure and test of endurance. While I had heard about the Dakar before, I never really considered participating until the chance arose, and I thought, "Yes, I’ll do it."

It's challenging to describe what it's truly like without experiencing it first hand. The days are long and the work is tough, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The event itself is incredible, and the organisation is outstanding; it's impressive how well everything is executed. However, it's difficult to articulate the experience in words.

I really enjoyed it, but it does require a lot of effort. Fortunately, we had an excellent team. Having a strong team is essential since you spend all day with them. The only time you really get to yourself is when you’re in your tent.

 

How was it sleeping in tents?

I really enjoyed my time there. I was staying on top of one of the Rangers, and surprisingly, it was quite comfortable. The worst part during the first few days was getting used to the noise from the generator. However, despite that, I slept really well. The truth is that because you work such long days, by the time you go to bed, you’re pretty tired, so falling asleep isn’t difficult at all.

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