The first major rally action of the year in Yorkshire roars into action this weekend when a top quality field lines up in Pickering to contest the De Lacy MC Kall Kwik Rally this Sunday (16th).

Over ninety crews will tackle just under 60 stage miles in the Yorkshire forest complex, and with the top drivers comprising the strong local contingent, the action is sure to be fast and furious.

Winners for the last two years, Yorkshiremen Steve Petch and John Richardson, will lead the field in their ex-works SGP Motorsport Hyundai Accent WRC, which took them to a comfortable win ahead of a number of Scottish marauders last February. Sadly, the challenge from north of the border hasn't materialised this time, but Petch can expect stiff competition from a driver with tartan connections, the reigning Scottish Champion Barry Johnson.

County Durham driver Johnson will start the defence of his title in the previous day's Snowman Rally based at Inverness before driving back to Pickering overnight to challenge for local honours in his Subaru Impreza which he shares with Channel Islander, Stewart Merry. Having finished third on last year's event, they will be hoping to go a couple of places better this time out.

Yorkshireman Alistair Ginley will be one of the dark horses for victory when he wheels out his Ford Focus WRC for the Kall Kwik.

The Selby driver gave a good account of himself with a top 16 finish on last year's Network Q Rally GB and, along with Irish co-driver Rory Kennedy, will be hoping to impress on home ground.

Fresh from his runners-up placing on the recent Jack Frost Rally at Croft, local ace Ryan Champion will also be gunning for glory this weekend in the stages he classifies as in his back yard.

The 27-year-old from Castleton will take to the wheel of a recently built Mitsubishi Lancer and having finished fourth last year, Champion and co driver Cliff Simmons will be hoping to improve at their home event.

Twice former winner Charlie Payne from Ripon teams up once again with three-time winner Craig Thorley (York) to give their new Subaru Impreza a shake down on the event. Having dispensed temporarily with his trusty MSR Mitsubishi, Payne will be one of the most spectacular drivers out there as he goes for his hat-trick.

The second of the Hyundai WRC's will be in the capable hands of Penrith driver Paul Bird who has BSB Journalist Larry Carter (Northallerton) alongside him. Bird won the recent Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally in the ex-works car and the event will see his debut on gravel.

But the MonsterMob Ducati team boss knows the Yorkshire stages well having finished inside the top ten on the same rally in 2001.

Carnaby's Richards Watts will be looking to repeat his recent form in his and York co-driver Christine Parling's Ford Escort

Cosworth while Leeds brothers, Jez and Paul Nolan, have spent the winter rebuilding their Mitsubishi after comprehensively wrecking it last time out in Dalby. York's BTCC Champion, James Thompson and Easingwold co-driver Plug Pulleyn, trade tarmac for gravel and will be in action in their Mitsubishi while Vodka Kick bass Steve Perez (Chesterfield) will return in his Lancer.