This weekend's Get Connected/Carless Fuels Wyedean Forest Rally opening round of the 2008 BTRDA National Rally Championship Pine Lodge Maps, Welsh National Championship plus four other regional series, has attracted an absolutely awsome lineup of cars and drivers. Hot favourite to take the spoils is Pembridge farmer Andy Burton in the awsome Peugeot Cosworth , but he will be chased hard by last years winners Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank, now armed with a Ford Focus WRC , 2006 winners Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop in a Subaru S11 WRC, event sponsor Damian Cole(Abergavenny) with local boy Craig Drew (Bream) on the notes second overall last year Cole will be pushing hard for his first gravel victory, Stephen Petch brings his Accent WRC from the North East BTRDA Champion Will Nichols in his Subaru WRC other top runners include Peter Egerton Accent WRC, John Lloyd Focus WRC , the very talented Sebastian Ling using the event as a shakedown for the EVO Challenge in his Evo 9, Shaun Gardner another driver expected to go well in his Lancer Evo 5.9. Looking at the other locals Paul Willetts ( Whitecroft), winner in 2005, will be sat alongside Irishman Michael O'Brien in the PVC Fabrications/Calico Interiors backed Focus WRC. Coleford's Nik Elsmore is another expected to be in the mix at the front of the field in his Hydrex backed EVO 9, other locals to look out for Cinderford duo Bob Morgan/Ade Williams in the Winner Garage Subaru Impreza, Dave Jenkins/Graham Cox winners in 1996 are another crew that won't be too far away in the DBS Cars Escort WRC. In the two wheel drive battle which will be as facinating as the overall fight at the front, with some really exciting drivers in a variety of cars. Last year's sensatioin Nick Elliott (Cheltenham) returns in his Escort RS young hot shot Henri Grehan (Ludlow) is another talented driver, add to this three very quick Irishmen in Escorts, Seamus O'Connell , Frank Kelly, Adrian Hetherington , but the battle of the local navigators in two wheel drive cars is the one to watch, Karen Watts (Bream) is calling the notes for Andrew Bowen (Leominster) in the Forest Trading Post Escort G3, the experienced Cliff Simmons (Coleford) is sat alongside Stuart Clark (Raglan) in the CC Groundworks Escort RS, but the real excitement is reserved for " KING OF THE DEAN" Graham Elsmore, the three time winner 75,76,77, is back after a 24 year lay off alongside his former navigator Stuart Harrold (Ross on Wye ) in the Rothdean, Pete Smith Car Sales, Gwalia, Hydrex sponsored RS 1800, Jon Ballinger (Leominster) Manta , Julian Jones Escort all adds to the mix for 2wd honours. Running at the head of the field is the Silverstone Tyres 1400 catergory cars again this is another battle royal at the front, with Graham Middleton out in a Suzuki Ignis , Middleton has won both BTRDA , Gold and Silver Star Series in the past and has been one of the country's talented drivers in the last two decades, Neil Weaver (Ludlow) Nova 16v is another talented driver pushing for victory, Julian Wilkes (Gloucester) is also out in his 16v Nova, plus a host of other candidates. Locals in the 1400 to look out for is Nigel Jenkins DBS Tyres Nova, Steve Jenkins Citroen Saxo , Ian Davies Escort and Eric Davis in his trusty Armley Enterprises Mini 1293, scholarship winner Dan Gray and Will Rogers will be making their Wyedean debuts the Ross on Wye pairing will be using a Nissan Micra. All in all spectators should be treated to wonderful days motorsport , the action gets under way with scruteneering from 15.00 hrs on Friday 8th February , first car leaves the start 08.00 am on Saturday 9th February from Chepstow Racecourse for 7 special stages in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, first car due to finish back at the Racecourse from 14.30, The racecourse offers a real family day out, not only with the start and finish but there is an exciting new Rally Show a live super special stage ( first car due mid-day) also the service area where you can see the cars being worked on .
