THE Welsh Motorsport Centre at Pembrey will next Wednesday host the final special stage rally of the year in Wales, the West Wales Rally Spares Christmas Stages Rally.

Once again, the organising Carmarthen Motor Club have attracted a full 70-car entry.

Leading the bumper field away will be Peter Lloyd, who has probably won more events at the venue than anybody else. Partnered by Martin Henry, Lloyd will bring the only Subaru Impreza WRC S14 currently rallying in Wales, and is hot favourite for another win at Pembrey. Last year's winners Bryan Davies and Alun Lewis start at two in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, and will no doubt provide a stern challenge to Lloyd, having been runners-up on the Peter Lloyd Stages Rally at Pembrey in October.

After winning the recent Talbenny Stages, Rob Tout will be keen to repeat his victory next week, and on this occasion will have Hu Kent in the navigator's seat of his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.

He will face stiff competition from fourth seeds, Nigel Jones and Tracey Giddings who will be eager to round off the season with a good result in their Subaru Impreza.

Another former winner of the event, Gwyndaf Jenkins, starts at five with Jim Winchester alongside, and is first of the two-wheel drive crews in his Darrian T90.

A trio of Subarus follow driven by Mark Ellis, Alan Bowen and Philip Turner, while former National Tarmacadam champion Geoff Kitney, partnered by Ken Gibbard, follow in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V1.

The top ten is rounded off by event sponsor Gareth Lloyd in his Ford Escort Mk 2, with daughter Heini navigating, and they will look forward to renewing the battle they had on last year's event with Carmarthen's Peter Barrett and Dylan Jones in a similar car, both crews hoping to repeat their 2010 top ten finishes.

Running close behind will be promising youngster Jason Davies in another Ford Escort, and his navigator Trystan Lloyd will no doubt be aiming to finish ahead of father Gareth.

There is an interesting entry at number 12, with former British National champion, Graham Middleton driving a Ford Escort on his first outing for some time, while Jason Pritchard swaps his usual Subaru Impreza for a Ford Fiesta ST for this event.

Among local crews, William John and Arfon Griffiths will hope to repeat their 1400cc class win of last year in a Vauxhall Nova, while grandfather and granddaughter crew Terry Brown and Angharad Williams will be favourites for victory in the historic class.

The action begins at the Welsh Motorsport Centre at 9.45am.