A capacity 150 cars will line up in Jedburgh next weekend ready to take part in one of the Border region's main sporting events when the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally gets underway next Saturday morning.

And with a world-class entry assembled by Whickham and District Motor Club and Hawick and Border Car Club, including British, National and Scottish Champions, as well as some of Britain's most promising talent, it really is a mouth-watering prospect.

The entry is headed by triple British Champion Mark Higgins, who along with co driver Rory Kennedy, is in action in the latest Group N MG S2000 Sport and the PWRC specification car is expected to attract a lot of interest.

Fresh from victory on Rallye Sunseeker, Pirelli MSA Championship leader Marcus Dodd travels up from his Dorset home hoping to repeat his victory of two years ago on the event when he and co driver Andrew Bargery took a dramatic victory in the prevalent snow and ice in their Hyundai Accent WRC. However, Dodd rolled out of last year's event when leading with just a couple of stages to go. 

Chasing Dodd down for ANCRO honours will be the radical Peugeot Cosworth of Midlander Andrew Burton/Shelley Rogerson who are planning a full campaign this season and they will be up against the Subaru WRCs of Mancunian Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop and Welshman Julian Reynolds/Pat Walsh whereas Ulstermen Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh will be a major contender in their ex Henning Solberg Ford Focus WRC.

The major protagonists in the County Saab MSA Scottish Rally Championship will also be battling it out in round two over the infamous Kielder stages with series leader Jimmy Girvan (Subaru) squaring off against former double champion Barry Johnson, who makes his debut in the ex-Andreas Mikkelsen Ford Focus WRC, and the DAM of Andy Horne, amongst a string of other leading Scottish drivers including Jim Carty (Subaru), Mike Faulkner (Mitsubishi) and William Bonniwell (Subaru).

Leading the charge in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evo Challenge is young Scot David Bogie, who will be looking for success once again and he'll be keen to score as many championship points in both this and the Scottish Championship in which he currently lies fourth. So too will Irishman Richard Cathcart who doubles up in both series but with 2007 Mitsubishi winner Phillip Morrow in the field, their work will be made a lot harder. Sebastian Ling, Nik Elsmore and Daniel Barry are all expected to go well on the event which last year, saw a tenth of a second between Morrow in first and second placed Ling.

Other names to watch out for are 2007 BTRDA Champion Tristan Pye (Subaru), Icelander Daniel Sigurdarson and 2007 Fiesta Sporting Trophy winner Jonathan Greer (Mitsubishi). Rallying veterans Charlie Payne (Mitsubishi WRC), Steve Bannister (Ford Escort Mk2) and comeback driver Brian Bell (Ford Focus) all add to the spice and with George McDonald's Super 1600cc Opel Corsa running at the front of the 1600cc field, the scene is set for a fantastic event:

"I don't think we'll see a better entry on a British event this year" enthused Clerk of the Course Paul Hughes. "We've reached our maximum capacity and it looks like it's going to be an absolutely cracking event with battles right the way down the field."

Comprising rounds of many major 2008 championships including the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the Subaru Group N Trophy as well as the County Saab MSA Scottish Rally Championship, top crews from all over the country as well as some European visitors will be hoping for a good run on the event. In addition, a National B and 'Mini' Rally will run concurrently to the main event.

Further information is available at www.bordercountiesrally.co.uk and www.gravelrally.co.uk

1 Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (MG 2000 Sport)

2 Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery          (Hyundai Accent WRC)

3 Andrew Burton/Shelley Rogerson      (Peugeot Cosworth)

4 Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop                        (Subaru Impreza WRC S11)

5 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh          (Ford Focus WRC 06)

6 Jimmy Girvan/John Bennie                 (Subaru Impreza WRC)

7 Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry            (Ford Focus WRC)

8 Julian Reynolds/Patrick Walsh            (Subaru Impreza WRC)

9 Andy Horne/Jim Howie                     (DAM 4100)

10 Phillip Morrow/Simon Morrow        (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)

Generally access is limited to the Kielder stages, security personnel and extra locks have been placed on certain forest and other roads. Spectators are likely to have difficulty getting to stages by any other way than the defined routes below.

A spectator point has been set up on each stage (where possible); each has been chosen not only for its accessibility but also for the viewing.

A small charge for parking is likely at each location, with agreement with the local forestry office the proceeds for each is donated to a local good cause, we hope that you will help us supporting these very good causes in what are normally remote local communities. Monies are shared with local communities affected by the event.

Cost will be £10 per car for a full day pass, this will allow you access to multiple stages and all of the Spectator car parks. 

Start & Finish Ramp:  Abbey Place, Jedburgh First 1600cc car due 08:31 & first WRC car due 09:31 (There will be a gap of approx. 30 mins between the last 2WD and first 4WD car) First cars due back from 15:00 

Get a close up view of the cars and crews before they leave for the day's action in the forests. See the Provost flag the crews away and listen to the live commentary and interviews with the drivers.  

SS 1, 2, 3 & 6 

Sorry, the Forest Enterprise have requested no spectator point or parking on these stages on safety grounds. Forestry officials, organisers or Police will be patrolling. 

SS 4 Fallowlees First 2WD car due 11:15

Leave A696 at MR 80/936914; turn right before Elsdon onto the unclassified 'Winter's Gibbet' road. Enter the forest on the left where signposted and park in the car park. A fast straight leads to a square left corner.

SS 5 Popes Hill First 2WD car due 13:15 

Access to this viewpoint is via the Kielder dam, cross the dam at MR 80/ 706870 off the C200. At the north end of the Dam, turn left and follow the signs to the car park. Fast flowing bends lead to an open square right corner. 

SS 7 Harwood First 2WD car due 16:15 

All details as SS4.