IN the absence of Julian Wilkes, winner of the 1,400cc category of the Weir Engineering Wyedean Forest Rally for the past four years, there are new pretenders to the vacant crown.

Don't be fooled by the 1,400cc tag – small-engined they may be, but the BTRDA 1400 Rally Championship, of which the Wyedean Forest Rally is the opening round, is an extraordinarily competitive series which has attracted the backing of Morris Lubricants for 2014.

Already confirming their presence in Chepstow for the Wyedean on February 15 are Mat Smith (Ford Ka), Dave Bennett (Vauxhall Corsa) and Dan Evans (Vauxhall Nova), each of whom won their respective classes in 2013.

For the full story, read The Forester.