RALLYING duo Pip Simpson and Nick Fieldhouse from Kankku in Windermere are to compete in this weekend's Coppermines Grizedale Stages Rally as entry number 13 for the second year running.

And last year, when the popular local team left the start line bearing the traditionally unlucky numbers, they flew over a blind crest into a Donald Campbell' style flip at 120mph just a mile into the forest that follows the shoreline of Coniston Water.

This year the event has attracted a full entry of 135 competing crews including eight World Rally cars. It is expected to bring as much as £100,000 into the local economy on what would otherwise be a relatively quiet winter weekend.

Pip Simpson from Kankku said: "The Grizedale Stages Rally is a wonderful event and extremely competitive. When you compete in an event such as this you have to give it 110 per cent, we are driving to use every last bit of grip available.

"The 7,000 or so spectators come to see cars drifting and sliding through the corners, it is inevitable when driving on the limit' that sometimes you push it over the limit'."

Asked if he was worried about being seeded 13 again, Pip replied: "It'll be flat out from the start, we'll be sniffing for the win as usual, but we do understand you have to be in it to win it!"

The rally kicks off from Coniston Town Centre at 9am tomorrow (Saturday). More information can be found about the Grizedale Stages Rally by following the link on www.kankku.co.uk.