Barratt joins JWRC for 2004 in an MG ZR.

After a season of track racing last year, Natalie Barratt will return to rallying in 2004 after announcing she will compete in the Junior World Rally Championship [JWRC] in a Super 1600 MG ZR, backed by chief sponsor KF Concept.

The car will be run by Risbridger Motorsport Solutions, and will contain the same mechanics who ran her Hyundai Accent WRC? in 2002.

Barratt will have a new co-driver for the season in Welshman Carl Williamson, and will face rallies in Monte Carlo, Sardinia and Turkey for the first time.

Barrett spent 2003 racing in the SEAT Cupra Championship but couldn't turn down the chance to return to rallying when the opportunity arose and she is looking forward to the new season after testing the MG for the first time last week.

"It's been twelve months since I've competed in a rally and I'm really excited to be back in rally car again," she said. "We had a really successful test last week in Austria and the car is working really well. The first challenge will be Monte Carlo, I've done a recce for the event before but I've never actually contested the rally so I'm really looking forward to that.

"It's going to be nice to have familiar faces in the team as it's always difficult with a new co-driver, but I am confident it's all going to work well."