Mitsubishi team ready for title battle

The Mitsubishi Motors UK Works Rally Team's drivers Guy Wilks and Gwyndaf Evans are poised for the final push in the chase for the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship driver's and team's titles, in the season's grand finale – the Wales Rally GB, which takes place between 30th November and 2nd December.

Following Wilks' third win of the season last time out in Yorkshire he starts the rally with what appears to be a distant 16 points from his main rival for the title, Mark Higgins. But there's 20 points on tap for a win and the rally is split into two rounds, the 88 miles of leg-one on Friday, after which the score-board is re-set for the 137 miles of leg-two on Saturday and Sunday.

Added to this, drivers have to drop scores from two rounds, which means that Wilks currently only has to drop one-point, whilst Higgins has to drop 18.

"I'm massively looking forward to the showdown", said Wilks. "Following a good result in Ireland last week and my WRC campaign now finished for the year, I really want to win the British title. Because of the position I'm in there's more pressure than there should be, but I can handle that. I'm going to watch what is happening with Mark and then react accordingly. Bring it on!"

Evans has a harder task head of him, having had his fair share of bad luck during the season and subsequently, is four points behind Wilks and 20 points behind Higgins. However, the Welshman is no stranger to the event, having contested the RAC/Rally GB every year since 1987 – only missing it on two occasions during that time, one of which was due to an outbreak of foot and mouth.

"I would love to win the British title again and mathematically it's still possible, but because of problems during the season it's going to be a tough call to get ahead of Guy and Mark", explains Evans. "I'm just going to focus on the job and see where we go from there. I've been pleased that I am still on the front-running pace – but there's no predictions."

It was muted earlier in the season that this could be Evans' last ever Rally GB, but because of his performances this year the legendary Welshman is now considering his options for 2008.

For the Mitsubishi team as a whole there is also the matter of the British Team's title to settle, an accolade which is regarded as important - if not more so - by a manufacturer. Currently Mitsubishi Motors UK top the team's table, seven points ahead of the Subarus of Stobart TEG Sport and strong performances by both MMUK drivers should be good enough to claim the award.

Although not registered for the Production World Rally Championship, the Mitsubishi team has applied and been granted priority status, which moves them ahead of the BRC field in the starting order. They are therefore closer to Higgins, who is PWRC registered, the re-seeding providing a more level playing field. General Manager for Ralliart and Mitsubishi Team Principal Paul Brigden has his sights set on the team award:

"For Mitsubishi the Team's Title is the main focus. However, it goes without saying that I would be delighted to see either Guy or Gwyndaf take the driver's title. Having scored three victories this season there's no doubt that both our cars and drivers have the pace to win and we are 100% committed to achieving what we have set out to do since we began competing in the BRC in 2005 – and that's to become British Champions for both teams and drivers in the same year!"

The Wales Rally GB is not only the final event in the British Rally Championship calendar, but also hosts the climax of the World Rally Championship and therefore holds the biggest challenge of the season for BRC crews.

The event begins with a ceremonial start in Cardiff on Thursday evening, before heading to the forests north of Swansea for six stages on Friday. Saturday sees a further six stages in the Brecon Beacons, plus the spectacular spectator stage in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium later that evening.

Sunday hosts a final four stages in Brechfa and Trawscoed Forests, before the finish back in Cardiff that afternoon. Servicing throughout the event takes place in Swansea.

Both drivers will be accompanied by their regular co-drivers: Wilks partnered by Phil Pugh and Evans by Huw Lewis.

The Cirencester-based Mitsubishi Motors UK rally team is supported by HKS, Pirelli, Sparco, Speedline Corse, PIAA, Ricardo and Performance Friction Brakes. The team's two Lancer Evolution IXs are built and run on events by ADR Motorsport of Chesterfield. Guy Wilks is supported by Mobil 1 and SEGA Rally.