Wales: Event preview

Welsh and Wales-based drivers and co-drivers will fight it out for Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship glory on home soil this weekend, at the final round of the series, Wales Rally GB (December 4-7).

Powys-based brothers Mark Higgins (Abermule) and David Higgins (Trefeglwys) are tied for the lead on 78 points. Mark, driving an Atlas TEG Sport Subaru Impreza, has the better chance winning his fourth British title as he has more rally wins, while David, driving a Team TQ.com Impreza, will be hoping consistency and speed will carry him to title success for a second time.

After a successful appeal to the MSA against his initial exclusion on the previous round, Rally Yorkshire, Guy Wilks' victory there puts him in with a chance of retaining his BRC title. Co-driven in his Mitsubishi Lancer by Phil Pugh, from Tywyn in Gwynedd, Wilks is just two points behind the Higgins brothers - and even with double points available on Wales Rally GB, the British Rally Championship title will go to one of these three drivers.

However, another Welshmen has been drafted into the Mitsubishi squad to help it win the Teams' title. Gwyndaf Evans, from Dinas Mawddwy in Gwynedd, will drive the team's second Mitsubishi Lancer. Co-driven by Gareth Roberts (Bronwydd, near Carmarthen), the 1996 British Rally Champion will start Wales Rally GB for the 20th time in 2008, making him one of the most experienced drivers in the field. Entering Wales Rally GB, TQ.com leads Mitsubishi by just three points in the Teams' standings.

Other Welsh competitors bidding for British Rally Championship points on Wales Rally GB include Pwllheli-born Hugh Evans (who now lives in Safat, Kuwait) and his Abersoch co-driver Iestyn Williams driving the second TQ.com Subaru Impreza. They are teamed with David Higgins and Carmarthenshire's Ieuan Thomas.

Young Jason Pritchard (Builth Wells, Powys) is following in his father Eian's footsteps when it comes to skill and speed behind the steering wheel, as the 20-year old driver has already won the Citroen C2 title. Co-driven by George Gwynn, Pritchard, who is still undergoing treatment on a foot injury, will be aiming for another giant-killer performance in the little car.

The winner of this year's Silverstone Tyres BRC Challenge, as in 2007, is rewarded with a fully-funded drive on Wales Rally GB. Young Manxman David Harrison and his co-driver Glyn Thomas will be hoping to emulate last year's winner Luke Pinder, who won class N1 on the gruelling event, when they take to the Welsh forestry stages in their 1400cc Group N MGZR.

-credit: walesrallygb.com