FORMER road rally champion Terry Martin heads a quality entry of almost 40 crews for this weekend's Memorial Rally, organised by Garstang and Preston Motor Club.

The Blackburn driver won last year's event with Simon Bentley on the maps, but has new navigator Paul Taylor, from Whitby, in the left-hand seat for this season.

With any of the top 20 capable of outright victory, the pair face a strong challenge from an impressive line-up of experienced road rally competitors.

Contenders include rapid Mini man Chris Day, Clitheroe DMC's Simon Daly and reigning SD34 champions Mal Grisdale and Bob Hargreaves.

Well-known historic competitor Steve Entwistle, from Rishton, makes a rare road rally appearance, teaming up with CSMA rally winning navigator Jason Crook in a Mini Cooper S, and Pendle DMC have a strong entry with no less than six crews in action.

A compact route, which follows the 'Pre-Plot'format of previous events, has been devised by organiser Chris Astley, with crews starting from Myerscough College near Garstang at around 10pm tonight.

Full spectator information will be available at the venue.

Entries: 1: Terry Martin/Paul Taylor (Peugeot 205GTi); 2: Steve Webster/Roger Hage (Subaru Impreza); 3: Chris Day/Ric Chalmers (Morris Mini); 4: Mike Cartwright/David Pedley (Vauxhall Astra); 5: Simon Harrison/Paul Holmberg (Ford Escort RS2000); 6: Simon Daly/Simon Bentley (Rover Maestro).

Others: 12: Mal Grisdale/Bob Hargreaves (Subaru Coupe); 14: Steve Entwistle/Jason Crook (Mini Cooper); 20: John Sedgwick/Thomas Vipond (Mini 1275); 21: Bill Chadwick/TBA (Peugeot 205GTi); 29: Damian Whittle/Irvine Holtom (Peugeot 205GTi); 34:Michael Judson/Derek Lewin (Vauxhall Astra); 41: Andrew Duffy/TBA (Ford Sierra).