THE Pirelli Rally gets under way from Carlisle City centre next Saturday morning.

Amongst the entries in the second round of the British Rally Championship are Cumbria's Team Penguin.

The pairing of Steve Head, a forester from Burton-in-Kendal, and Andrew Dugdale of Penrith have been preparing harder than most for their local event.

Driving their Teng Tools/McVities backed Proton Compact, Head and Dugdale will be looking to repeat the class win they took on the opening round of the Championship in Wales last month. The pair are currently 10th in the British Championship for drivers and co-drivers.

The Team Penguin duo will launch their new weight saving device in time for the Carlisle rally at the Pirelli Charity ball on Thursday 4th May. The pair will have their heads shaved in a bid to raise money and save weight!

"The cars are so closely matched that every advantage counts", joked Steve. "But more importantly we hope to raise one thousand pounds for McMillan Cancer".

The rally starts outside the old town hall in Carlisle centre at 9 o'clock, with the opening stage and Rally show at Carlisle Airport shortly after.

The 100 or so crews will then compete over two days and 130 competitive miles on forest tracks through Europe's largest man made forest in Kielder. The rally finishes in Carlisle centre on Sunday afternoon.