GUY Wilks is aiming for a pointsscoring finish when he returns from an injury-enforced 12-week lay-off on the Czech Rally this weekend.

Despite sitting out the last three rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge after fracturing two vertebrae in an accident on the Sardinian Rally in June, a great start to the season – sixth in Monte Carlo, second in Brazil and Argentina and third in Gran Canarias – sees Wilks arrive in the Czech Republic a strong fourth in the drivers’ standings and the top British driver.

The 29-year old Darlington driver is keen to rally the new Skoda UK Motorosport Fabia S2000 Facelift for the first time, and he and co-driver Phil Pugh will have the rousing support of the 250,000 Czech fans that are expected to line this year’s rally route.

In order to polish his driving technique and to test his body against the enormous G-forces that asphalt rallying entails, Wilks has been driving his own 125cc Rotax Max racing go-kart at Warden Law, a kart circuit near his home in County Durham.

The test went well, reinforcing the fact that he’s 100 per cent fit and ready for a return to competition – even though he may be lacking a little race practice.

“I’m looking forward to driving the Fabia S2000 Facelift for the first time, and it will be all the more special to make my rally comeback on Skoda’s home event,” he said.

“We have to make sure we have a great pre-rally test, find the right set-up and make sure we do a good job, because the Barum Rally represents a great opportunity to get back scoring points straight away.”

There will be some very fast drivers on the event, especially Jan Kopecki, who won by just over a minute last year, and his Skoda Motorsport team-mate Juho Hanninen, who arrives leading the series.

“All the other drivers will be match fit, especially those who have done Madeira and are coming straight off the back of another asphalt rally. But that’s no excuse – I’m happy with my fitness and I think we’ll be back on the pace.”