THIS weekend’s keenly-anticipated Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally looks like being one of the most closely contested in recent years, with a high class entry featuring some of the cream of British rallying.

The event is a round of the both the British Trials and Rally Drivers’ Association’s National Championship, as well as the MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship.

The first car away from the start on Llandudno promenade on Saturday is the Ford Fiesta World Rally car of British Trials and Rally Drivers’ Association Gold Star Championship winner, and English Rally Championship title holder, Stephen Petch and co-driver Michael Wilkinson.

They head a strong line-up, which features five Fiesta R5s in the top six seeds, plus a Ford Focus World Rally Car, indicating a tight battle for overall honours.

Following Petch away from the start line will be 2012 and 2016 Cambrian winner Luke Francis from Rhuddlan and co-driver John H Roberts from Llysfaen, who will be making their first competitive outing in a Ford Fiesta World Rally Car.

Francis has previously successfully campaigned a Mitsubishi Evo 9 in both the BTRDA, and Welsh Forest Championships, and is looking forward to the challenge of repeating success in the Fiesta.

In car four, Matt Edwards from Colwyn Bay, is a rising star of British Rallying.

In 2017 Matt, and navigator Darren Garrod, competed in the Swift Rally Team Ford Fiesta in the Prestone MSA British Rally Championship for the first time, and gained an amazing third overall.

This season their talent has been recognised by the mighty M-Sport Rally team, and Matt will be driving an M-Sport works Fiesta in the British Rally Championship, while contesting the BTRDA Championship, of which the Cambrian is the first round, in the Swift Rally Fiesta.

Sure to put in a challenge for the overall win will be the 2008 Cambrian winner, Ruthin-based Hugh Hunter, who is contesting the BTRDA Championship series in a Ford Fiesta World Rally Car, along with experienced co-driver Rob Fagg.

Heading the front wheel drive entry, is up and coming Ulster driver, 18-year old William Creighton, who took the runner-up spot in the 2017 Prestone Motorsport News Junior British Rally Championship series, and closed his season with a run on Wales Rally GB in a Peugeot 208 R2.

The Belfast youngster surprised many with his front-running pace in the British Rally Championship, taking two class wins and podiums on all but two rounds.

Sure to entertain the crowds with a foot to the floor performance, while hoping for honours in the two wheel drive category, are Ieuan Rowlands from Ffestiniog and Emyr Hall from Cerrigydrudion who, in a change from their usual Ford Escort, will be in a Hillman Avenger. They will be using the rally as a warm up to a season in the British Historic Championship.

The Cambrian Rally starts on Llandudno promenade at 8am on Saturday, 17 February, and takes in competitive timed stages in the Conwy Valley, Penmachno, and at Llyn Alwen near Cerrigydruidion, before finally finishing at Llandudno.

There will be a service area at Surf Snowdonia at Dolgarrog where the public can get up close to cars and competitors.