HAVING won the 1400cc category on the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally for the past three years, Taunton driver Julian Wilkes will be first away from the Chepstow Racecourse start in his Vauxhall Nova VX1900 on Saturday as he attempts to extend his record-breaking run of victories still further.

With Will Rutherford co-driving, Wilkes heads a capacity entry of 180 cars and will be followed to the first of seven special stages, all of which are in the Forest of Dean, by the Proton Satria of defending 1400 Champions Darren Pinchin/Karen Watts.

There are over fifty 1400s and, once they are all on their way, the next batch of cars to start the event is the ‘Historics’.

Graham Waite/Mike Reynolds (Volvo) and former MSA British Historic Champions Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride (Porsche 911) head the list which contains some very rapid Ford Escort MkIIs driven by, amongst others, Nick Elliott, Jason Lepley, Stuart Clarke and Peter Smith. Wyedean ‘veterans’ Theo Bengry/Les Forsbrook (Leominster) will also be out in their beautifully restored Opel Ascona 400.

Adrian McNally, of event sponsors GMF Motor Factors, is co-driving for David Edwards in his Escort RS2000 Meanwhile, Andy Burton will be missing from this year’s rally, the entry list contains a mouth-watering number of crew/car combinations such that any one of the top dozen could conceivably arrive back in Chepstow to be pronounced winners of the 2012 Wyedean Forest Rally.

Steve Perez/Paul Spooner (Ford Focus WRC), who were victorious two years ago, start with No.1 on their doors, ahead of Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank whose ex Colin McRae Focus was replaced with a newer model towards the end of last season.

Making it a Focus 1-2-3 are Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley, while the new pairing of Roger Chilman/Bryan Thomas are next in their Subaru Impreza WRC.

The top six is completed by the Mitsubishi Lancers of David Wright/Michael Wilkinson & Shaun Gardener/Ben Innes.