Niki Bjerg fought back on the Tempest Rally last weekend, the final round of the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup, to secure the one-make series' Junior title and with it a place in the Pirelli Star Driver shootout.

The Dane will join seven other finalists for a chance to win a fully funded drive in the 2009 MSA British Rally Championship, the final place being decided on Wales Rally GB in early December.

The shoot-out will take place in the week immediately after the last round of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship, when the hopefuls will be assessed by a panel of judges.

The challenge will include not only their ability in the car, but fitness, knowledge of the sport, media skills and a final interview.

2007 champion Darren Gass already knows what it is to take the prize, although the eventual winner will not know what vehicle he will drive until early in the New Year.

The purpose of the Pirelli Star Driver scheme is to help progress talent in the sport, with the ultimate goal to help a future World Rally Champion make the next step up the ladder.

The finalists confirmed thus far, in addition to Bjerg, are:

Juho Hanninen Pirelli International Rally
Adam Gould Jim Clark International Rally
Phillip Morrow Toddsleap.com Ulster International Rally
Andreas Sjolander International Rally Isle of Man
Luke Pinder International Rally Yorkshire

To be decided Wales Rally GB
To be decided Citroën C2R2 Cup Junior