This year’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB will be the most exciting for years, as both the drivers and prestigious manufacturers title will be up for grabs when the FIA World Rally Championship arrives in Wales for four days of tough competition.

With entries rolling in for both International and National rallies, and ticket sales reportedly far advanced of the same point last year, the organisers are expecting a huge number of spectators lining the Welsh Forests tracks to see the new breed of 2017 cars.

With reigning champion, Sebastian Ogier, now armed with an M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC, leading the way in the driver’s points table with Hyundai’s, Thierry Neuville, hot on his heels in the Hyundai i20 WRC, and Ott Tanak not far behind in third place. In the fight for the manufacturers’ crown M-Sport lead from Hyundai with newcomers Gazoo Toyota still in the fight in third place.

Hyundai has announced the signing of Andrea Mikkelsen for the final three rounds after the Norweigian had driven for Citroen on the previous two rounds in Poland and Germany, and this may prove to be a decisive move to strengthen Hyundai’s title chances.

But M-Sport may yet have an ace card of their own with Welshman Elfyn Evans in the DMack Ford Fiesta WRC, the likeable Evans has impressed many this year and could be a real dark horse in his home forests. Another young gun, Finnish star Teemu Suninen is another who could switch from his Fiesta R5 to a WRC car to strengthen their squad, having had two top six results this year in Poland and Finland in a WRC machine.

The Citroen team will be headed by Irish duo Kris Meeke and Craig Breen, it has been a frustrating year for Meeke, set up issues with the C3 WRC and a run of poor results saw him replaced by Mikkelsen, but is too good a driver to be discounted in Wales. Whereas Breen has been a more consistent performer all year.

New boys Gazoo Toyota have been a revelation and a breath of fresh air to the World championship under the leadership of former WRC champion Tommi Makinen, with Jari Matti Latvala taking the team’s first win on only the second round in Sweden. Since then the exciting youngster Esapekka Lappi has taken the top step of the podium.

After Thursday’s opening superspecial at Tir Prince, Friday’s route follows the usual format. Day two will see the event’s longest day with a very early start. Crews head for the first runs of Dyfnant & Aberhirnant before heading south for a double run of both Gartheniog and Dyfi Main, with a re-group at Corris, before crossing the border into England for the ever popular rally fest stage at Cholmondeley Castle, the slippery tarmac test attracted over 10,000 spectators last year, before returning to Deeside for service before the sting in the tail, a re-run of Dyfnant & Aberhirnant in darkness.

The final leg, although somewhat short with only 42 kms of action, is a real challenge, with opening tests in the notorious Alwen and Brenig before heading South for a test in Gwydyr Forest, not used since 2013, before a return to Alwen and Brenig, from there the crews will head to the finish in Llandudno. For further information and ticketing visit www.walesrallygb.com