DARLINGTON'S Guy Wilks is hoping to emulate his performance in the latest round of the British Rally Championship by closing the gap in the race for the Junior World Rally title.

Last weekend in the Isle of Man, Wilks drove largely unchallenged to take the glory in the Super 1600 class in the Manx International Rally.

The only real battle the Dealer Team Suzuki driver had was when he suffered gearbox problems on the final day and had to limp over the finishing line.

Wilks and his Suzuki Ignis now top the leaderboard on home soil after his victory was enough to knock Jonnie Wigmore (Ford Puma) off the summit.

But just a day after this latest success, Wilks was on board a plane and heading to Scandinavia in order to test the car before this weekend's event.

Rally Finland comprises 22 stages and will see the entrants tackle 382km of demanding terrain with.

leg one getting underway from Jyvaskyla at 8am local time today.

Wilks, second in the JWRC championship and winner of the Acropolis Rally in Greece earlier this year, is one of four Suzuki drivers run by Monster Sport Europe taking part in what is the quickest and probably the most famous rally of the entire championship. Its daunting series of flat-out stages, coupled with rollercoaster crests challenge every driver and car to the maximum.

The Ignis dominated the last round of the Junior World Rally Championship in Turkey, but Finland could not provide a greater contrast. However, Suzuki comes to the event with a proven track record, after Daniel Carlsson took the Ignis to a resounding victory last year.

Wilks, who stunned the Junior World Rally Championship establishment last year by finishing third in a car outclassed by much more modern machinery, said: "I love the roads in Finland, as you have to be so committed.

"We've had a very positive test and I'm feeling quite confident.

Finland is a real driver's event, which is very technical but also allows you to attack. We're currently second in the Junior World Rally Championship points, so our objective is clearly to try and build on that."

COMPANIES interested in sports sponsorship can discover more about racing driver Chris Dent now the Formula Renault hopeful has launched his website.

Dent, 19, from Durham needs to raise £40,000 to take part in the championship's Winter Series in November.

Fortec Motorsport, the leading team in the most prestigious junior single seater racing series in the UK, has agreed to let him drive, but Dent has to find the money first.

Designed and maintained by Gateshead-based The Media Lounge, www. chrisdentracing. com contains all the information potential sponsors might need including latest news, opportunities for driver and car appearances at corporate events and promotion of companies via branding and media coverage.

The site also explains the series which provided a springboard for Formula 1 star Kimi Raikkonen and is backed by one of the world's leading motor manufacturers. Races are watched by an estimated two million viewers on terrestrial television and a further two million on Sky.

Chris's father, John, said: "Racing cars professionally is Chris' chosen career but we cannot do it without the support of partners. I hope anyone looking at the website can see what a serious and professional approach Chris is taking. This extends not only to his driving but in the commitment he would give to sponsors who come on board."

For more information visit www. chrisdentracing. com or telephone 07720 548 406.

Published: 06/08/2004