Head enters South African candidate event.

Experienced international rally driver and TV sports presenter, Robbie Head, has confirmed his entry on the Zulu Rally next weekend, South Africa's WRC candidate event, which runs from May 26-27.

Head, who has been working flat-out for a few months on the deal, will team up with South African co-driver Robin Houghton in the New Africa Developments' Mitsubishi Evo 9, which was driven by Japie van Niekerk in the first three rallies of the 2006 Sasol National Championship.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to compete on the Rally of South Africa, I owe a lot to my sponsors, especially New Africa Developments who have made it possible for me to compete on South Africa's candidate event for the World Rally Championship," said the Scot. "We have a good package, with a new car built to the latest FIA Group N4 specification, and have every chance of a strong performance in the Zulu Rally."

Head last competed in South Africa in 1998 when he won the Agip Rally in a Daewoo. The Scot made his South African debut with a Toyota Conquest in the 1991 Castrol Rally, has a long-term love of South Africa and spend a lot of time in the country. He and his wife, Lucy, even got married in Cape Town.

"South Africa is an amazing country and would be an asset to the WRC, we need to get it on the calendar," he added. "Robin and I are really looking forward to the challenge of facing up to the leading lights in South African rallying as well as the other foreign drivers."

Although Head has not taken part in many competitive events in recent times, restricting himself to regional events in the last three years, due to commitments as a presenter on Channel 4 and ITV, Head has extensive experience as a rally driver, including a spell as test and development driver for the Subaru WRT between 1999-2001.

Preparation for the 240 km international event meanwhile is ongoing with the Evo 9 being fully re-prepared after van Niekerk and Robin Houghton took the car to fifth overall on the recent Sasol Rally.