Amongst the 86 teams representing 29 nations are recently crowned FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb and Valentino Rossi, the current and six-times MotoGP Champion. Loeb will be leading Citroën's bid to take the FIA Manufacturers Trophy back from Ford. Rossi (29) will be driving an M-Sport-run Ford Focus RS World Rally Car bearing support for the BBC's Children in Need appeal.

There are 14 official Manufacturer entries (Citroën 2, Ford 8, Subaru 2 and Suzuki 2) and 21 World Rally Cars.

Welshman Tom Cave celebrates his 17th birthday on 16th November and, subject to passing his UK driving test on 25th November, will become the youngest-ever Rally GB competitor.

WRGB continues to be one of the most popular rallies in the WRC and entry levels rank alongside Rally Japan and this year are second only to Rally Finland.

In addition to being the final round of the World Rally Championship for Drivers, Manufacturers and drivers of Production Cars, Wales Rally GB is also a double-points scoring event in the seven-round Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship. Three drivers (David Higgins, Mark Higgins and Guy Wilks - defending Champion - are in contention for this coveted title. (For details of BRC driver standings visit www.rallybrc.co.uk).

WRGB is also the final round of Fiesta SportingTrophy international.

For a second year, a National event will run behind the international field on all three days to accommodate six amateur drivers from the Army, Navy and Air Force in self-prepared Land Rovers.

Rally Guide 2, a comprehensive guide to all aspects of WRGB including the final route and timetable, will be able to download from www.walesrallygb.com

For further information please contact John Horton, National Press Officer.
Telephone; +44 (0)121 378 2828. Mobile; +44 (0)7778 282899. Email; wrgb@jhmm.co.uk

Notes to editors:
Wales Rally GB:

Copyright-free images from the 2007 Wales Rally GB can be downloaded from; www.worldrallypics.com/walesrallygb/

www.walesrallygb.com is the official website and provides regular news updates and a link to copyright-free images.

Since its inception in 1932 the rally has been run 63 times; this year's event will be the 64th edition. Enforced stoppages have included World War 2, Suez Crisis (1957) and Foot and Mouth (1967).

For 2008 Wales Rally GB has become the first round of the World Rally Championship to offset all its carbon emissions, including all spectator travel. The event has been awarded CarbonNeutral® event status, confirming that the event's carbon footprint is now 'net zero'.

Wales Rally GB is the British and final round of the 15-round FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). It is one of only four events that have retained their unbroken World Championship status since the WRC was established in 1973.

Cardiff first hosted the rally in 2000 and the Welsh Assembly Government has been the main sponsor of the event since 2003. The City and County of Swansea has provided the Service Park since 2001.

WRGB is the finale of the Tesco 99 Octane British Rally Championship (rounds six and seven) and the eighth and final round of the FIA Production World Rally Championship.

Wales Rally GB is held annually and is the UK's biggest motor sport event. It is organised and promoted by International Motor Sports Ltd (IMS), the commercial arm of the Berkshire-based Motor Sports Association (MSA), the governing body for all UK motor sport.

Access to all 19 special stages is by ticket. Buy tickets in advance for the best value for money:
- by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 847 2251
- online via the official website: www.walesrallygb.com
- or in person from Ticketline, 47 Westgate Street, Cardiff, CF10 1TL

Details on high quality hospitality packages can be obtained from Alyson Beach at Viking Hospitality, telephone: +44 (0)2920 766661 or e-mail: hospitality@walesrallygb.com.

Note to Radio Stations:
During the rally, a free of charge Radio service - featuring both professional and amateur drivers - will be provided by Cardiff-based Lloyd Bell Productions. For details please contact either Sam Lloyd (07811 210170) or Rupert Bell (07774 463348) or email info@lloydbell.co.uk.

Note to Picture Editors:
If you have drivers or co-drivers in your area taking part in on the event, copyright-free hi-res photographs will be available at the latest from Saturday 6th December onwards from: www.worldrallypics.com/walesrallygb

Ends.