EAST Yorkshire rally ace Jonny Milner will be among the top speed-king drivers in the 29th Trackrod Rally Yorkshire on Saturday, October 7.

More than 170 crews have already confirmed their presence for the event, even though entries do not close until next Thursday.

Huggate-based Milner, the 2002 Trackrod champion and fourth overall last year, will be among a clutch of Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 drivers in hot pursuit of Welsh-based Manxman Mark Higgins, in the Stobart VK Subaru Impreza.

Higgins leads the way as he hopes to clinch his third Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship title and his second in succession on Yorkshire's fifth of the six round series.

Another former champion and fellow Mitsubishi Lancer chasing Higgins will be Welsh ace Gwundaf Evans.

The broadest possible spectrum of cars will descend on Pickering and the North York Moors stages.

Leading off a packed day's action are a host of historic vehicles, from what many regard as the sport's golden era, all in gleaming condition and ready to roll back the years - many in the hands of drivers who not so long ago were themselves contesting national honours and higher.

Six separate rallies form a package which Leeds-based Trackrod Motor Club, with the assistance of almost all other clubs in the region, have fine-tuned into one of the most highly respected events on the calendar.

The Silverstone Competition Tyres BRC Stars of the Future, BRC Rallymasters, Mitsubishi Ralliart Evo Challenge, MG Car Club ZR Rally Championship, ARMAJARO-MSA British Historic Rally Championship incorporating the HRCR Historic Rally Challenge in association with Mintex, the Peugeot 206 Masters and Peugeot 205 Rally Scholarship plus four of the leading regional championships: the Competition Car Insurance EMAMC Multi-venue Championship, Walkers/Techno 2 ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, Kent Cams Northern Stage Rally Championship, Roadrunner Phoenix Awards Stage Rally Championship (ANEMMC), all stage independent battles for points at the Pickering Showground-based Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.

The event has this year been condensed from two days to one, with Friday's scrutineering, central servicing of the cars, two purpose-built spectator stages and the night's post rally celebrations all located in or around the Northern Events Arena within the Showground.

The most spectacular action is expected on the ten forest stages including Dalby and Cropton, where expertise is timed in fractions.