Six time British Rally Champion, Jimmy McRae, is the latest name to express an interest in entering the David Stokes Historic Challenge, running within this year’s Winner Garage Wyedean Stages.

The father of the late former world champion, Colin, and British champion, Alistair, he will drive Mick Stafford’s unique Vauxhall Firenza V8. McRae will drive with regular co-driver Pauline Gullick, who is one of only four ladies to complete the East African Safari when she did the 1974 event in a Datsun 160J, with Rosemary Smith.

Gullick is now celebrating her 50th year of rallying and has done twelve RAC rallies. She has a long association with both the Wyedean and the Forest of Dean.

Gullick said: “The Dean is a special place for me, I have been through those forests so many times on various rallies, day and night. I had possibly my best result on the 1972 Tour of Dean, coming 4th overall with Andy Dawson in a Hillman Imp. Given that it was a round of the British Championship against a host of very quick Escorts, it was a very impressive result.

David Stokes and I were friends for many years, and Jimmy knew David not only from the old Castrol Autosport days but the British Historic series too.

Mick Stafford very kindly loans us his Firenza V8, but we need to find all the funding to run the car and pay the mechanics. In return for sponsorship, we are available for any promotional work with the car on the eve of the rally.”

David Stokes Historic Challenge co-ordinator Paul Willetts said: "The interest in this has been immense so far and I hope Jimmy and Pauline can get a deal together to come. The car is unique and sounds awesome. Pauline is another person who has a long history with the Wyedean, so fingers crossed it can happen.”

If anyone would like further details about sponsorship packages, you can email Pauline at: [email protected].