This week's Wales Rally GB looks like it's going to be one of the best WRC events this year.

With both drivers' and manufacturers' titles settled, the gloves are off, and with drives up for grabs in 2014, victory in Wales could be a springboard to a drive next year.

This year's event features a new base on Deeside, a return to the night stages on Thursday evening, the inclusion of the much-loved spectator stages and a reduced entry fee for privateers.

This all adds up to an exciting four days on some of the best gravel roads in the world.

The new two and three-day national rallies were oversubscribed for the 100 places available and have again captured the imagination of the British clubmen, as the rally did in the old Lombard and Network Q RAC days.

The newly-crowned world champion Sebastian Ogier will start as favourite and will be looking to finish the year on a high in the all conquering VW Polo R WRC.

Team-mate Jari Matti Latvala has had a frustrating year by his standards and will push Ogier all the way for victory on one of his favourite events.

Qatar Ford's leading driver Thierry Neuville will want to sign off on his final drive for the blue oval team with a result, having announced his switch to the all-new Hyundai World Rally Team for next year.

His team mates Evgeny Novikov and Mads Ostberg could both do with a good result in Wales. Both have not produced the results that were expected of them this year, and with Citroen's Mikko Hirvonen rumoured to be returning to Ford next year, a good result may help them retain their drive for 2014, although both are rumoured to be moving on with Novikov running a private Polo R WRC and Ostberg switching to Citroen to join Dani Sordo and possibly Britain's Kris Meeke next year.

Mikko Hirvonen has struggled this year with the French team, and would relish a return to M-Sport camp.

Former Formula 1 star Robert Kubica steps up to a full works DS3 WRC having secured the WRC 2 title in Spain.

The Polish driver has put a string of top 10 finishes together, and fully deserves his opportunity as he seeks a full programme of WRC drives next year, and has spoken to both Citroen and Ford, but nothing as been confirmed as we go to press.

Young Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen, with the Polo, has shown great speed at times this year and can never be discounted for a podium finish.

Behind the WRC regulars is a high quality WRC 2 entry, here we see a few British drivers who will be mixing it with the WRC regulars.

Elfyn Evans has had a superb year and shown he is one for the future, the young Welshman will hopefully put his knowledge of the Welsh forests to good use, and don't be surprised to see the Dolgellau resident inside the top ten come Sunday afternoon.

At the other end of the scale, Mark Higgins makes a welcome return to Wales Rally GB at the wheel of an MSL-run Ford Fiesta R5.

The former British champion has been rallying in China for a few years and will relish a chance to get back out on the stages where he made his name.

Mark's team mate will be another young Welsh driver, Tom Cave, who will switch from his usual Citroen DS3 RT to another Fiesta R5.

The quality goes right down the entry list with the likes of Finn Jari Ketomaa and Norwegian Eyvind Brynildsen in a pair of Fiestas, rising German star Sepp Weigard in his factory-backed Skoda Fabia S2000, Abdulaziz Al Kuwari in another Fiesta R5, young Italian Lorenzo Bertelli, who is being mentored by former works driver Pierro Liatti, in a Fiesta R5.

The National Rallies that run between the first and second passes through the stages for the WRC entries starts on Friday morning, and attracted a capacity 100 entries within weeks of the entries opening.

Bob Morgan with Adrian Williams on the notes will be looking to build on Bob's recent victory on the WLE Rally Time Trial in the home-built Skoda Fabia S2000 Evo, and with many years' experience in the Welsh forests they'll be looking for a top 10 finish among the high quality entry.

Simon Tysoe and Cliffy Simmons in their historic spec Escort RS1800 will be looking to take the historic honours.

Simmons' 30 years experience of the Welsh forests will stand the duo in good stead over three days of fierce competition.

Scott Partridge will have Alex Lee on the notes in his Subaru Impreza.

This year's world championship finale will see fireworks at the front for the victory, that will be sure to light up the Welsh forests over four tough days. For more information and tickets go to http://www.walesrallygb.com">www.walesrallygb.com