Morecambe Car Club will be praying for a dry weekend when the Lune Valley Motors Illuminations Rally takes to the road this weekend.

Competitors on last year's event were left counting the cost of contesting the rain-lashed rally, with the conditions described by one driver as "the worst ever seen on an event".

The combination of torrential rain and serious flooding in the Lake District threatened to scupper the180-mile road rally, only the determination of the organisers - who were forced to re-route whole sections - and the competitors saw the event through to a finish.

However, there's a healthy 24-car field for the 2009 event , which starts and finishes at the Vale of Lune Rugby Club, with points at stake for four regional championships.

Alex Willan heads the entry list in his Proton Compact, but the winner could come from any of the top 12 crews.

Contenders include Welshman Hywel Davies (Ford Escort), John Leckie (Subaru Impreza) and Roger Powley (Proton Persona).

Morecambe CC also looking for volunteers to help marshal - and there's a free breakfast for anyone who mans two checkpoints during the night.

Anyone who can help should contact the chief marshal Cath Simpson, tel: 01524 791779 or 07798853765 or email csimpson64@tiscali.co.uk

LEADING ENTRIES

1:Alex Willan Ali Proger (Proton Compact)
2: Hywel Davies Richard Morris (Ford Escort)
3: John Leckie Paul Holmberg (Subaru Impreza)
4: Roger Powley Stewart Merry (Proton Persona)
5: Jonty Bloxham Nick Bloxham (Peugeot 106)
11: Steve Entwistle Bob Hargreaves (Morris Cooper)
17: Paul Buckel Steven Butler (Vauxhall Nova)
18 Simon Boardman Ian Rayner (Proton Compact)
21: Paul Gray Marcus Pomfret (Austin Mini)