GETTING TO KNOW: LESLEY PHILIP

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS AT M-SPORT

With 25 years at M-Sport, Lesley has seen the company grow from its earliest days at Dovenby Hall to the global operation it is today. Known for her knowledge, calm problem-solving and willingness to help wherever needed, she is one of those people who truly keeps things moving behind the scenes.

How long have you been at the company?

I’ve been at M-Sport for 25 years, having started on 8^th January 2001. When I joined, M-Sport had only been based at Dovenby Hall for around six months, and the team was much smaller than it is today. In fact, the skirting boards were still being painted when I arrived, which really shows how far the company has come since those early days.

How did you get to where you are today?

I’m from Cumbria, but after gaining a Philosophy degree at York Uni spent ten years in London and then travelled the world for a year. I started my rally career with a small rally team in Carlisle through a temporary role. There I met Andrew Wheatley.  Andrew later moved to M-Sport and encouraged me to apply here too. After my interview, I completely fell in love with the place. Rallying itself isn’t my complete passion - but the people and what M-Sport represents absolutely are.

At the small rally team, I was producing movement schedules on a typewriter and faxing them to John Millington at Ford for approval. Little did I know that I would end up working directly with the absolute legend that is Mr Millington when I joined M-Sport.  I managed the Travel Office here for many years, right up until the pandemic. I then spent about a year and a half managing payroll and pensions before stepping into my current role as Senior Administrator, which I thoroughly enjoy.

What does your role involve today?

A big part of my role is chasing customer payments, which I genuinely enjoy because it combines problem-solving, customer-facing communication, and relationship-building. I also manage contractors, oversee ad hoc projects such as solar panels, electricity generation, and vending machines, work closely with Paul on reports, and act as a go-to troubleshooter for whatever needs doing. No two days are ever the same, and that’s exactly why I love it.

What makes your area of expertise so special?

It comes down to experience and understanding people. I don’t always know the technical details of what everyone does, but I know how people work, which is just as important.

Early in my career, John Millington taught me to always be ahead of the curve: anticipate potential problems and have solutions ready. Even if you don’t need them immediately, chances are you’ll need them later. I’ve shared this approach with colleagues who now pass it on to new starters, which is really nice to see.

What was your first big job at M-Sport?

One of my first major tasks was Rally New Zealand, planning travel for around 70 to 80 people, a huge responsibility that involved a lot of organisation. Back then, air tickets would arrive at M-Sport in two large DHL bags, with everyone’s tickets inside.

On one occasion, someone’s dog managed to eat a ticket that had been delivered to their home, and they had to pay £50 for a replacement! It’s one of those stories that still gets mentioned years later.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Working in the travel office during the WRC and Bentley programmes was utter bedlam… but in the best possible way! Bentley ran like a dream, the drivers were fantastic, and the buzz of the events was absolutely unforgettable.

In my Senior Admin role, the best part is filling in the gaps and supporting the wider team. Being able to step in wherever needed and help keep things moving is hugely satisfying.

Any career highlights over the years?

Bentley winning Bathurst in Australia and M-Sport securing the WRC Championships are major highlights. I clearly remember Rally New Zealand when we were on track to win the World Championship in 2006, and 40 members of staff came into work at 3am to watch the service park together on Christian Loriaux’s laptop in his office. It was a phenomenal moment!

Rally GB 2017 stands out too, when Elfyn Evans extended his lead and M-Sport held first, second, and third. It was an incredible team effort and a moment I felt extremely proud to be part of.

What do you get up to in your spare time?

For years I was part of the circuit training group Barry Johnson ran at M-Sport, which really pushed me out of my comfort zone and even inspired me to run half marathons… something I never imagined I’d do! These days, I enjoy singing in a choir and getting involved in my local community. I also love crafts and have just been learning silver jewellery making. For the past year and a half, I’ve been a volunteer gardener at Higham Hall every Thursday. It’s hard labour but incredibly rewarding after spending so much time behind a desk.

What’s something about your role or department most people wouldn’t expect?

Just how much collaboration goes on behind the scenes. It truly is a team effort, with planning, coordination, and shared knowledge coming together to make everything run smoothly. We can all learn a great deal from one another.

How has M-Sport changed since you first started, and what’s stayed the same?

When I started, there were around 12 women at M-Sport, all in office roles. Today, there are nearly 50 women across all roles and departments, which is fantastic. Technology has also changed dramatically-from faxes and couriered visas to systems that work almost instantly.

What hasn’t changed is the strong team ethos and the high standards set by Malcolm, which remain deeply ingrained and are part of what makes M-Sport special.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Don’t lose so much sleep over things you can’t control, like whether Markko Märtin was going to make his flight. There are so many links in the chain, and any one of them can break, so don’t take it personally.

For anyone joining M-Sport now, my advice is: don’t stay in your comfort zone. Always say “yes” to a task, always say “sorry” if you need to, and always be prepared to say “I don’t know.” I’ve lived by that throughout my career and it’s served me incredibly well.