The all-action Network Q Rally Great Britain starts on Sunday and over two million fans are expected to be drawn to the three-day spectacular.

This year it returns to Cheltenham and the 28 special stages and 240 miles of competitive driving will take in two motor sport race circuits in the Midlands and the hills and forests of central and south Wales.

The Network Q is the last round of the World Rally Championship, at present headed by reigning world champion, Finnish driver Tommi Makinen in the Mitsubishi Lancer, with Spain's Carlos Sainz only two points behind in the Toyota Corolla.

Any hopes that former world champion Colin McRae nursed of regaining the title fell by the wayside in Australia a couple of weeks ago when the turbo of his Subaru failed. He has little to prove having won the event (then known as the RAC Rally) in 1994, 1995 and again in 1997.

But while the Network Q is first and foremost a meeting of the gladiators, it also offers major national rally drivers, manufacturers teams and privateers the chance to show off their skills.

And among them will be several from North Yorkshire.

Stamford Bridge ace, Jonny Milner, will be taking out his new Toyota Celica GT-Four (car number 57), an ex-works world rally car. Not far behind in car 64 is Whitby's Ryan Champion in his Mitsubishi Lance Evolution and co-piloted by Craig Thorley of Stamford Bridge, while York's Simon Redhead, winner of this year's Subaru Shield, will be at the wheel of his new Impreza 555, bought especially for the occasion.

York's Proton team driver Jenny Davies (car 78) with co-driver Claire Mole, of Berwick, have had mixed fortunes in the British Rally Championship rounds, but stand a chance of snatching the leading women's team title at this event, now that Bradford's Simmonite sisters have been forced to withdraw.

Ripon driver Steward Hymas drives his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (car no 100) with co-driver Richard Pulleyn (York), while immediately following them off the start line is York's Gary Cooper and Jonathan Belbin in a Subaru Impreza 555.

North Duffield driver Charles Gabb, with co-driver Jonathan Riley (Selby), will be in car 108, an all-wheel drive Ford Sierra, and following is Knaresborough rally stalwart Les Andrew, taking his Vauxhall Astra Sport 16v out to retain the class event title he scooped last year.

Following Andrew is Harrogate's Kevin Wilson in his souped up Peugeot 306 S16 (car 126).

Heading the North Yorkshire drivers is Richmond's Steve Petch who is driving his world rally Ford Escort (car 50).

The event starts with a Rally Show tomorrow at Cheltenham where spectators will have the chance to meet the drivers and celebrities, together with manufacturers' displays and the opening ceremony.

On Sunday there will be 13-spectactor friendly stages, five of them at Silverstone race circuit, taking in Cheltenham (7.20am start), Cornbury Park near Oxford (8.36am), Silverstone Circuit (10.07/10.20 and later 13.45/14.22/14.35), Millbrook Proving Ground, Befordshire (11.59/12.12) is where manufacturers test their new cars, Towester (14.58) and Donington race circuit (16.51/17.02) and returning to Cheltenham for the last stage at 18.58. Five of the stages will be at Silverstone, including the unique side-by-side Super Special.

On Monday and Tuesday, the competitors will head for the hills and forests of central and south Wales.

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