THE Day Insure Wales Rally GB returns to the fringes of Ludlow for its mid-Wales leg next Saturday with some thrilling action in store for local fans.

The event promises to be another battle royale between the three main World Rally Championship title contenders – reigning champion Sebastian Ogier, current championship leader Thierry Neuville and the in-form Ott Tanak.

Estonian Tanak has put himself in a strong position by winning the last three WRC events in his Toyota Yaris WRC, while both Ogier and Neuville have hit problems.

Toyota now leads the Manufacturers Championship coming in to Wales Rally GB and the trio of Tanak, Jari Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi will form a strong Toyota team.

Closer to home, last year’s winner Welshman Elfyn Evans will be keen to repeat the performance in his M-Sport Fiesta WRC.

The Dolgellau driver has had a mixed year of results and will be keen to put on a show in his local forests as well as helping teammate Ogier’s world title aspirations.

Championship leader Neuville will be looking to get his Hyundai back on the top step of the podium, after struggling in the last few events.

There is a strong British contingent in the WRC 2 ranks, with the likes of Chris Ingram, fresh from a superb ninth overall in the recent Rallye Turkey, and local boy Tom Cave in his Hyundai i20.

Those two are joined by British Rally Championship regulars David Bogie, impressive series leader Matt Edwards and Rhys Yates.

Saturday’s leg is the longest of the four-day event, which runs from Thursday to Sunday (October 4-7).

After a 5.30am start, the morning loop will consist of the classic Welsh stages in Myherin, Hafren, Dyfi, Gartheiniog and Dyfnant, before the popular regroup and tyre change in Newtown.

The afternoon loop sees all the stages repeated apart from Dyfnant before returning to Deeside at 8pm.

For further information and ticket details go to walesrallygb.com