THE 31st Malcolm Wilson Rally is gearing up for more exciting duels around the Lake District's Grizedale forest when the event starts on Saturday morning.

Event sponsor Malcolm Wilson, the head of M-Sport and the Ford-based World Rally team, celebrated his 51st birthday at the weekend, after a tremendous week which saw the team record a 1-2-3 in the Norway Rally in the World Championships.

BP-Ford duo Mikko Hirvonen and Marcus Gronholme were first and second with Stobart VK M-Sport Ford's Henning Solberg in third.

Another feature of the event is the Fiesta Stages Trophy Challenge, with 26 drivers having entered the eight-stage series.

Changes have been made to this year's route with usage of all Forestry Commission stages and a variation of routes in the Grizedale complex.

The Greystoke stage has been resurfaced with the same surface used in Finland for the Thousand Lakes Rally, and there is also a return to the Penrith Truck Stop for the service area.

The rally starts, as usual from Cockermouth town centre, with the first car away at 8.30am. Spectator positions are available at Greystoke (9.20), Grizedale South (11.30), Grizedale North (12.00), Greystoke (1400), Hobcarton (14.55), Comb (15.05), Wythorp (15.25) and back at Coermouth for the finish (15.55).

Instructions on parking must be followed and are available on the event website at: malcolmwilson.co.uk.