ENTRIES are now being accepted for the prestigious 2013 Trackrod Rally Yorkshire – with organisers fully expecting the number of competitors to increase.

The event, which takes place in Ryedale on September 27 and 28, includes the penultimate round of the MSA British Championship and the REIS/Get Connected BTRDA Championship, as well as the final round of the inaugural West Wales Rally Spares RAC Championship – in addition to counting towards other national, regional and single-make title races.

In the past three and a half decades, the rally has become one of the foremost on the UK calendar and this is always reflected by the magnitude and diversity of the entry.

With the addition of the 60th BTRDA and inaugural RAC Championships, the total number of cars competing this year is expected to rise, enabling organisers to reduce the entry fees, which all are inclusive of RalliTrak – an in-car radio system maintaining constant contact which acts as an important additional safety measure.

A carefully thought-out route, with central servicing and a minimum of road mileage between the stages, all based around Pickering, promises to provide a feast of action during the course of the two-day event.

All entries are, as last year, being invited online with full details and application forms available on the rally website www.rallyyorkshire.co.uk

Friday, September 27, sees the thrills begin with competitors taking on the challenge of Dalby Forest at night, headlights illuminating the way through the trees that line the gravel forest tracks. The Historic Championship runners are closely followed by the modern, hi-tech BRC cars and Land Rovers.

Two special spectator venues – a redesigned ‘Woodyard’ and ‘Housedale’ – are located within the Dalby complex, each featuring a range of facilities and reverberating to the roar of rally cars from around 8pm.

After an overnight halt, the cars return, supplemented by the BTRDA contestants, to undertake the remaining stages which include special viewing at Cropton, from 8.30am on Saturday, plus a new spectator location still being finalised by the organisers.

Action over the various stages is almost continuous, with the start and finish now very close by in Pickering, where the whole event is orchestrated from the town’s refurbished Showground.

Pre-paid tickets have been held at 2012 prices, with optional privilege parking closer to the action on some stages.

All tickets include a 48-page full colour programme, and will be available later in the year.