Mitsubishi's Guy Wilks has a score to settle on the
Jim Clark International Rally this coming weekend, the second round in the 2008 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship.
Wilks, who got his title defence off to the perfect start by taking a resounding victory on the Pirelli last month, was caught out by the weather last year in Kelso, when he went off the road in the final stage on Saturday and threw away a 20-odd second lead.
Although he rejoined under the SupeRally on the Sunday and was right back on the pace - setting fastest times in five of the six tests - the damage had already been done and he eventually finished tenth overall and fourth of those runners entitled to score points in the BRC.
"After what happened last year I have some unfinished business to attend to," confirmed the Englishman.
"We were holding a comfortable lead before the rain, so I know that the pace is there - especially after our test last week.
"I'm very pleased with the set up we have and, with a trouble free-run, I believe we can take our second win of the season."
Phillip Morrow meanwhile will drive the sister works Lancer Evolution IX and like Wilks, he is upbeat about the prospect of a good result following the team's recent pre-event test.
"It was great working with the team during the test and I came away happy with the way the car was performing," added the 2007 Mitsubishi Evo Challenge champion.
"I learnt a great deal on the Pirelli Rally, so I intend to build on that experience and, after finishing one place away from the podium, I hope I can get into the top three this time round."
Mitsubishi UK Motorsport boss Paul Brigden is content with the way things have gone so far this season: "So far this year the performance of our cars has lived up to our expectations and I'm very pleased that the drivers are reporting they feel confident driving them," he continued.
"At the test we were able to optimise the settings for this weekend's event and I'm looking forward to seeing how both the cars and drivers perform on tarmac."
