World's #1 female rally star on fast track for GB.

When Natalie Barratt, supported by Mitsubishi Motors UK, contests the Rally of Great Britain (22-25 November) in her signature fluorescent yellow GP N Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, the world's top female rally driver will be aiming to finish the season on a high, before planning for next year's FIA World Rally Championship competition.

The successful 26-year old driver from Wilmslow in Cheshire has been concentrating on the FIA Teams' Cup this year. The six-round series, held within the 14 round World Championship, was concluded on the Rally Australia earlier this month - and against more powerful WRC car competition, Natalie finished a superb 5th overall in the series in her near-standard Mitsubishi. With the forthcoming Rally of Great Britain the finale to a successful 2001 season, Natalie is using the event to maximise the opportunity to prepare for her soon to be announced programme of events in the 2002 FIA World Rally Championship. Most significantly, Natalie will be co-driven by former British and FIA Teams' Cup Rally Champion, Roger Freeman.

Having contested the Rally of Great Britain every year since 1998, Natalie has never failed to reach the finish on all three of her previous attempts. In 1999 she finished 37th overall - after being seeded 115th and this year has been seeded at number 100 as Natalie battles with the notorious conditions on the Rally of Great Britain with characteristic spirit and enthusiasm.

2001 has been Natalie's most successful season ever - including three top six point-scoring results on FIA Teams' Cup events, two 8th place Group N finishes (in Sweden and Cyprus) and finishing 21st overall on the gruelling Cyprus Rally. Natalie said: "The Rally of Great Britain is always a difficult event. However, we know the car is up to the challenge with it surviving asphalt, gravel and dirt rallies and we will fight our way through the field to finish as high as we possibly can.

"Although we won't have the best of conditions to rally on, I'm still looking forward to the event. Owing to my busy World Rally Championship programme this year I haven't rallied in the UK at all, so it will be my first rally in Britain for twelve months.

"I'm delighted to be back in the rally car with Roger Freeman, who will be co-driving for me next year. As there are only a matter of weeks before the end of the Rally of Great Britain and my first test for the 2002 season, I consider the event to be the start of a new season rather than the end of this one. Having completed the FIA Teams' Cup in Australia, the Rally of Great Britain is very much a test for next season - and a great opportunity to say thank you to all the British fans who have supported me this year."

The 2001 Rally of Great Britain is based in Cardiff and is run entirely in Wales. Crews have to complete the 1,065.50 mile (1,714.77km) route, of which 236.65 miles (380.86kms) are competitive and timed to the nearest one-hundredth of a second. These are set out in 17 special stages - two of which are run on a figure of eight super-special stage in Cardiff and the remainder in the forests of south and west Wales. Owing to the time of year, drivers can expect to face anything from mud, rain, low-sun, dust and even snow and ice - and if that wasn't enough, three of the stages will be run in darkness.

The rally starts on Thursday 22 November with a short (1.52 mile / 2.45km) but spectacular super-special at Thyssen Rallysprint track in Cardiff Docks. The rally proper begins the following day, with seven stages equalling 85.29 miles (137.26kms) in the forests of St. Gwynno, Tyle,Rhondda, Crychan, Halfway, Brechfa and Trawscoed.

Leg 2 runs on Saturday 24 November, with five more stages equalling 82.57 miles (132.89kms) - including the longest stage of the event, the giant 28.86 (46.45km) stage in Resolfen forest. Saturday's action ends with a repeat of the Cardiff super-special. The third and final leg takes place on Sunday 25 November, with four stages equalling 67.27 miles (108.26kms) in Rheola (ran twice), Rhondda and Margam forests. The traditional champagne finish ceremony is outside Cardiff City Hall at 16.10.