GUY Wilks has suffered a double blow to his rallying aspirations.

Not only could the Darlington driver have celebrated his British Rally Championship victory prematurely, but his bid for a World Rally Championship seat with Subaru lies in tatters after the manufacturer pulled out of the event.

The Mitisubishi driver has been told his back-to-back triumph in the British Championship has gone to appeal.

Wilks sealed victory by pipping brothers Mark and David Higgins following the rally of Wales, but that might now be taken away from him.

After complaints that the steering column on his Evo 9 was not checked following his triumph in the International Rally Yorkshire in September, Wilks’ win was rescinded.

However, he was reinstated on appeal, putting him back in the running for the national title.

Now the Motor Sports Association (MSA) has said it is to further investigate the appeal hearing, throwing the championship into chaos.

A spokesman for Mitsubishi Motors UK Rally Team said: “We understand that a request has been submitted to the MSA to reopen the case, which was heard at the end of November by the MSA National Court.

“We are looking into this situation in order to respond accordingly. In the meantime, our decision regarding next year’s participation in the British Rally Championship is on hold, although it is the wish of Mitsubishi UK to continue with a motorsport programme in 2009.”

Meanwhile, Wilks’ 500 Club scheme, which sought backers to enable him to fund a seat with Subaru, has become an indirect victim of the economic downturn.

Wilks was just hours from signing a contract with Prodrive for 2009 when the pullout was announced.

“I’m absolutely stunned,”

he said. “We have been working so hard to earn this opportunity and thanks to the generosity of rally fans who backed the Wilks 500 Club and a private investor we were so close to making it happen.

The money was in place. The final amendments to the contract had been agreed and we were due to sign this week.”

The deal would have seen Wilks and co-driver Phil Pugh contest a minimum of eight rounds of the 2009 WRC as the third official factory car, starting on Rally Ireland next month.

“It’s so sad to see Subaru quit the WRC. They were the iconic team with millions of fans around the world. The WRC is part of Subaru’s DNA,” Wilks said.

“It would have been a privilege to be the first Brit since Colin (McRae) and Richard (Burns) to drive for Subaru.”