"We recently competed on the Donegal Rally in Ireland and now I'm happy with the car so we should be up to speed on the tarmac," he predicted. "It's a superb event and I’m relishing the challenge."
David Higgins, brother of Mark, and also a previous British Champion, has overcome problems with the
FIA (the sports governing body) after a mis-understanding and will once again be part of the three-car works Mitsubishi Team, alongside Champion and talented Irishman Rory Galligan. Galligan impressed with a spirited drive to sixth overall last year, winning the Production class category in the process, and will be hopeful of a similar result this year.
Taking the challenge to the Group N 'show room specials' are the Super 1600 cars. Ford is represented by the Stobart VK M-sport Team and fields Roman Kresta, the official Ford World Rally Team test driver, as well as young Barry Clark, who won the 2005 Production Class title, and both cars should be quick if the weather remains dry.
Hoping to take the fight to them are the two Suzuki pilots. Guy Wilks, a regular in the Junior World Rally Championship will be on board the one Suzuki Ignis S1600 whilst young James Wozencroft, who won the 'Stars of the Future' round here last year, has been testing extensively ahead of this weekend's rally.
The 'young pretenders' brigade will be going all out to usurp those ahead of them, and amongst those to watch will be Hancook SJR contender Stuart Jones and young Irishman Phil Morrow. Morrow and Jones chased Champion all the way to the 2005 Evo Challenge title but both of their aspirations took a blow when engine failures sidelined them on the 2005 event.
Young Zimbabwean Conrad Rautenbach returns to the UK after a triumphant victory on his home event of the FIA African Rally championship but admits that it won't really assist him this weekend.
