This year's Weir Engineering Wyedean Forest Rally will see around 26 local crews tackling the event.

In the main field, top seeds are at 10 in the shape of Rob Smith and Ross Weir in the Weir Engineering/ WLE/ RSR Subaru Impreza S9 WRC hired from Melvyn Evans motorsport.

These two will be looking for a strong top five finish.

Wyedean veterans Bob Morgan and Ade Williams in the Winner Garage Skoda Fabia S2000 Evo are more than capable of a top 10 finish.

Hot on their heels is Bob's son Jason Morgan in his refreshed Winner Garage Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6. He will have Karen Phelps on the notes, expect a real strong run on home ground.

Next up at no 22 is the returning Mark Griffiths with a new co-driver in the shape of Ross resident Mike Jode in a completely rebuilt Escort RS1800.

On his day Griffiths can hold his own with any of the top 2wd rivals.

One place behind is the only Drew name on this year's entry list is the shape of Cinderford's Nigel in the NPD Plant/ Kettle Civils Impreza.

He is another with a new co-driver in Pauline Nash. These two are doing the event for the 'supportcharlie.org' charity.

Will Rogers now teams up with Rory Hall in his N12 Impreza, after Matt Edwards pulled his entry.

Another Ross-on-Wye crew are father and daughter Gary and Tiffany Bollands in the Subaru Impreza, who line up at 47.

Shawn Baldwin and Simon Cox in the Autofix of Coleford Escort RS start at 53.

Brothers Ian and Cliff Davies wheel out their Escort RS and the Staunton duo are always good to watch.

At no 70 is a pair of Wyedean debutants – the ever smiling Mike Truman has son Lee on the notes in the ME Damsell-backed Subaru Impreza.

The former bike racer's only previous event was the WLE Time Trial in Sweet Lamb last year, where he finished an excellent 26th overall.

The Morris Lubricants 1400 category, running at the head of the field, will see three local crews in with an excellent chance of taking the 1400 victory.

The first of these, at 203, are Darren Pinchen and Karen Jenkins in the Gibsons Proton Satria. Pinchen has only done a limited number of events in the past 12 months.

Just behind them is the highly talented Dan Evans with Tom Marrott on board in the Ian Evans Motorsport 1400 Nova.

These two will looking to start their BTRDA campaign with a victory.

Hot on their heels are Nigel Jenkins and Kevin Watkins in the NJ Autos Vauxhall Nova, another who on his day can mix it at the sharp end.

Ross-on-Wye driver Dan Gray makes a welcome return at 215 with new co-driver Matt Rogers in a new powerful Peugeot 106.

Next up is the spectators' favourite car in the shape of Wyedean veteran Eric Davies.

The Drybrook resident will be starting his 29th Wyedean in the Dennis Motorsport/ RP Joinery Mini GT with Russ Joseph on the notes.

Ross pairing John Tatlow and Julie Westwood line up at 235 but have swapped the Saab 96 for a Daihatsu Sirion this year.

Another making a return to the event is Rob Tuckwell with Phil Hall in a VW Lupo.

Next up comes Steve Jenkins and Mark Vaughan in the 1400 Citroen Saxo.

Lydbrook's Sean Amos with Ryan Taylor on the notes will be hoping for better luck after his roll on the WLE Rally Time Trial last year in the Fiesta.

David Harley has the experienced Chris Butcher alongside in the Peugeot 205.

Matt Davis makes his driving debut in the Roberts Plant/ KPB Photography Peugeot 106, and will have Stuart Hart alongside.

Finally we come to the historic category.

Reigning Welsh historic champions Roger Matthews and Paul Morris lead the locals away at car 305 in the RJ Matthews Transport Escort RS1600 fresh from an excellent run on the recent Red Kite Stages.

Hot on their heels are Simon Tysoe and the Wyedean veteran Cliffy Simmons in another RS1600.

These two could well be dark horses for a victory, with Simmons' knowledge of the stages and his maximum attack approach.

At 314 we see Martyn Walby and daughter Kirsty in a Calico Interiors/ McBro-backed freshly built Escort RS1800.

The reason these two are doing the event is to raise money for the 'supportcharlie.org' charity for little Charlie Mitchell.

One place behind is Ross on Wye's Paul Gunter with the experienced Den Golding on the notes. The BG Landrovers MD wheels out his immaculate Escort RS.

Another local crew is right behind them in the shape of Simon Pickering and Colin Jenkins in the Dave Jenkins Motorsport Escort RS1600, fresh from third in class on the Red Kite.

And finally Jason Gardner and Graham Cox in the Brecon View Plumbing Escort RS.