Pirelli will have an increased presence on Wales Rally GB this coming weekend as the World Rally Championship season draws to a close.

As per usual, Pirelli will provide tyres for Subaru duo Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson, but will also have a third WRC runner to cheer on as British champion Mark Higgins takes on his home event at the wheel of a Ford Focus.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity of doing my home event in a competitive car like the Ford Focus WRC on Pirelli P Zero tyres,” Higgins said, “even though it will be over a route made treacherous by extremely low temperatures and surfaces that are icy or very muddy.”

Higgins has already driven Pirelli Competizioni's reconnaissance car, together with Carlo Cassina, Valentino Rossi's regular co-driver during the course of the season.

Pirelli will also service a number of Grounp N cars – including the Subaru Impreza of Anton Alen, son of Markku – with rally manager Mario Isola admitting that the Welsh forests provided the crews with a special challenge.

“The more than 1,200 kilometres of the rally in Wales means Pirelli will offer its P Zero tyres with its KP tread pattern and an extremely soft compound,” he said. “It is developed specifically for the special nature of this last annual event.”