The final leg takes competitors west to the Brechfa Forest complex for stages which have traditionally formed the opening day's action in recent years.
Drivers tackle 17 stages covering 355.92km of competition in a route of 1206.67km.
Hot tip:
In Sebastien Loeb’s continued absence, due to injury, the usual trio will be in contention this weekend, namely Marcus Gronholm,
Mikko Hirvonen and
Petter Solberg.
All three stand a good chance and while Gronholm has six wins this season and will start as the overall favourite, don’t write of Hirvonen (who comes into the event on the back of eight podium finishes from the last nine events) or Solberg (who has a good record in GB and will be determined to try and end the season on a high).
Last year:
Petter Solberg ‘won’ the Rally GB in 2005, which was a sombre affair following the accident on SS15, which claimed the life of Michael Park -
Markko Martin's co-driver.
Sebastien Loeb had been leading and would have taken the title following Peugeot's decision to withdraw the sister 307 of Marcus Gronholm as a mark of respect however, the Frenchman opted to check into the final time control late so as not to clinch his second drivers' championship in such tragic circumstances. Loeb thus dropped down to third, with
Francois Duval taking the runners-up spot.
Chris Atkinson and Stephane Sarrazin had problems on day two and retired, although the former managed to re-start on Sunday under the SupeRally and was classified in 38th position.
Toni Gardemeister was excluded at the end of day one, after his Ford was found to be underweight.
