"My driving and fitness levels have improved immensely from last season and coupled with the additional input to my motorsport career from the MSA Rally Elite Scheme I feel confident I can perform well on the day."

The two-day shootout will consist of physical, psychological and media tests before a gravel based driving test in Greystoke Forest.

Barry Johnson, M-Sport's personal trainer will conduct the gruelling physical tests which will challenge the competitors to their maximum fitness ability

The psychological test will assess the competitors' mental strengths and weaknesses and determine whether they are capable of becoming a leading competitive drive.

The media interview will involve challenging questions from the sports leading journalists. It will allow the judges to see how the drivers react under pressure and if they are competent in front of rallying's toughest critics.

On the second day, the competitors will show their driving skills on a gravel stage at M-Sport's very own forest test facility, Greystoke. The drivers will have three runs with their best two times being combined to give their stage time.

The five top competitors will then be selected for a one-to-one interview with Malcolm Wilson, director of M-Sport and boss of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT.

The winner of the shootout will then be announced at the end of the second day on December 10.

"It has been great to see the battle between Elfyn [Evans] and Alastair [Fisher] this year, and with the title going down to a points tie at the end of the year it just shows how evenly matched these drivers are," FST co-ordinator, Richard Millener summed-up.

"With Elfyn winning the title the only choice was Alastair for the nomination, the two boys are in a class of their own and both should have the opportunity to compete at the shootout."