ONE of the biggest events on the British sporting calendar kicks off this week when the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB returns to Powys (October 26-29) with the county hosting six timed stages and a mid day service in Newtown on Friday 27.

The event forms the penultimate round of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship which this year employs new car regulations, which has seen resurgence in the interest of the sport. The current crop of World Rally Car have sprouted spectacular aerodynamic wings and extra power making the leading cars close to 400+ horsepower making them considerably faster and spectacular than in recent years and reignited the sport almost to the levels of the Group B cars of the 1980’s.

The rally will be fought over 21 timed stages in mid and north Wales and with a top class field that sees three drivers capable of winning the world drivers championship.

Last year’s Wales Rally GB winner and the current leader of the championship; Sebastien Ogier will be hoping to secure his fifth title and his Ford team M Sport are on the brink of securing the manufactures title.

UK and Welsh Interest centers on Elfyn Evans from Machynlleth who drives for the D Mack Ford team. Evans came close to winning his first WRC rally earlier this season in Argentina but missed out on the top step of the podium by less than a second.

Brecon pairing of Craig Jones and Jon Hawkins have entered the National rally in Mitsubushi Evo – this event will the biggest event either have competed and are hoping to be amongst the finishers in Llandudno on Sunday.

The rally is based in Deeside but the dramatic high-speed action blasts off early Friday morning with stages near Llangurig and features double runs through the well-known Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren stages, either side of a remote service halt in Newtown.

The Saturday stages are based around Machynlleth in the famous Dyfi complex before heading to the feature stage at Cholmondeley Castle Rally Fest at 15.30. Sunday features stages in North Wales including: Clocaenog forest before the finish in the centre of Llandudno at 15.30hrs.

For more information on the event go online at walesrallygb.com or www.facebook.com/walesrallygb