The Winner Garage Skoda Wyedean Stages are just over a week away. A total of 125 entries have been received, and the closing date for entries draws near.

Paul Willetts, rallying correspondent, told the Ross Gazette: “The Forest of Dean Motor Club have been overwhelmed by the response, from not only competitors, but also radio crews and marshals.”

The forthcoming event will feature two loops of three stages, totalling 40 miles, and it will start and finish from the Club’s new base at Vantage Point Business Village in Mitcheldean.

There will be a fierce battle for top historic honours with local hotshots, Steve Bennett from Ross-on-Wye and Nick Elliott from Cheltenham doing battle with youngster Ben Llewellin, veteran Terry Brown, all RS1800 mounted, and Irishman Stanley Orr RS1600, Jeremy Easson Datsun 260Z.

There is also a host of local crews who will be battling for honours throughout the field.

But this year’s event will also be focusing on strict spectator safety, with the new strict RAC MSA guidelines for 2016 on event safety.

An event spokesman said: “We’ve brought the entire event back to the Forest of Dean, to support local businesses, many of whom supported us for many years.

“But its really important that spectators adhere to the new MSA safety guidelines, there is a very good safety video on the event website under the spectators link.

The Forest of Dean Motor Club nominated charity for the event is Leanne’s Gift. For more information, please visit the website: www.leannesgift.co.uk. To make a donation to the charity, please visit: www.justgiving.com/leannes-gift.

If you require any pre-event information, please visit the event website: www.wyedeanstages.co.uk

Read the full report in this week’s Ross Gazette