FLITE OF FANCY!…

In deference to his record-breaking five previous wins on RALLYE SUNSEEKER, defending champion MARCUS DODD ( Poole ) heads this year's entry list in his Flitewise.com-sponsored Hyundai Accent WRC. It was from Bournemouth this time last year that Marcus and co-driver ANDREW BARGERY ( Hove ) set out on the trail of the MSA Gravel Rally Championship title which would ultimately prove successful. But whose turn is it this year?

Following Dodd away from the start in Bournemouth Square on Friday evening will be recent Wyedean Forest Rally winner ANDY BURTON (Kington) in his Peugeot Cosworth. Burton 's driving style in his home-built hybrid car is always a crowd-pleaser, but his trip to the south coast has not been kind to him in recent years. Perhaps it is time for a change of fortune….

A trio of Subaru Impreza WRCs, each in very capable hands, complete the Top 5. JON INGRAM (Hale), JULIAN REYNOLDS (Narberth) & WILL NICHOLLS, who will just hop on a ferry from his home in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight to get to the start, each possess the talent and machinery to be regarded as potential event and Pirelli MSA Gravel Championship winners, and their respective campaigns for these coveted positions start now.

JOHN LLOYD ( London ) is at the wheel of the first of three Ford Focus WRCs in the entry, whilst a very strong Irish presence is led by SEAN DEVINE (Strabane - Subaru Impreza WRC) & STEPHEN MOORE (Cookstown - Ford Focus WRC).

This year's Rallye Sunseeker celebrates the success of the MG Metro 6R4 and over thirty of the iconic machines will be in attendance. Most will be taking part in displays and demonstrations over the two days, but one of the quickest gravel specification cars still actively competing, that of Yorkshireman WARREN PHILLISKIRK, takes its place in the Top 10.

Once again, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge kicks off in Bournemouth with a host of drivers intent on emulating Phillip Morrow's 2007 success. A Welshman (SEB LING – Newcastle Emlyn), a Scotsman (DAVID BOGIE - Dumfries) and an Irishman (KEITH CRONIN - Bantry) lead the field as all the contenders set out on the long road which does not reach its conclusion until the end of October.

Having recently celebrated his 70 th birthday in style, HARRY DODD (Poole – Hyundai Accent WRC)) could well lay claim to be the oldest competitor on Rallye Sunseeker, while the youngest is CHRIS DAVIES (Porth) who is co-driving for JONATHAN SPARKS (Mandeville) in a Mitsubishi Lancer. Chris turns 17 the day after the rally finishes – driving lessons, perhaps, as a present from mum and dad?…

As ever there will be class battles raging throughout the entry but, just to ensure fair play, there are five crews from HM Armed Forces in Land Rovers contesting the Rallye Sunseeker Military Challenge who will be ‘mixing it' with all of them!…