BARRY Johnson, double Scottish champion and winner of the inaugural event following the return of rallying to Hamsterley Forest two years ago, heads a 100 car capacity entry for Sunday's SG Petch Hamsterley Forest Stages Rally.

The Shildon businessman and his Channel Island co-driver Stewart Merry start as hot favourites in their ex-Petter Solberg Subaru WRC. But they can expect a strong challenge from a host of drivers on the annual Ripon Motorsport Club event.

The rally comprises rounds of three regional championships, including the Walkers Garage/Tecno 2 ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, the Kent Cams ANCC Forest Rally Championship and the Peugeot 1.6/1.4 & RWD Challenge Championship, as well as the BMW 325i series.

"Having seen a copy of the entry list, it's going to be hard for us to retain our crown but we'll be giving it a go, that is for sure.

"It's fantastic that there has been huge support this time and I hope it's as enjoyable as the last event a couple of years ago," said Johnson, who finished runner-up in the 2005 MSA National Gravel Rally Championship.

Taking the fight to Johnson will be former ANCRO National Champion Roger Duckworth, who is making a surprise trip north along with co-driver Mark Broomfield in their Subaru WRC.

The Towcester crew are using the event to test parts prior to a winter rebuild, and despite being unfamiliar with the territory, they are expected to feature strongly.

"We had gearbox problems last time out so we needed somewhere to see if we have sorted them and Hamsterley fitted the bill," said the 1998 champion. "I don't think we'll be challenging Barry as it's a long time since we've been up there!"

Local driver Tony Thompson, from Ingleton, finished runner-up to Johnson two years ago and despite not competing much this season due to work, he and co-driver Jon Dunning have entered in their MSR prepared-Mitsubishi, while Leeming driver Kevin Procter and co-driver Mike Gilby are sure to be in with a shout in their Ford Puma Evo 4 x 4.

Harrogate's Tim Pearcey and co-driver Cliff Simmons will be hoping for top honours in their showroom specification Group N Mitsubishi, but they will no doubt come up against it with the likes of Newcastle driver Michael Glendinning and co-driver Andrew Roughead (Subaru) as well as the Hexham Mitsubishi crew of Tony Arnsby and Phil Cook.

Making his debut in a World Rally Car will be Hamsterley resident Stephen Petch, who along with Tow Law co-driver Mike Wilkinson, will be at the wheel of an SGP Hyundai Accent, while more WRC machinery will be present in the hands of Midlanders Donovan Jenkin and Ian Bass in their Ford Escort.

Nostalgia will also be returning to County Durham with the 1990 ex-works Toyota Celica run by Kevin Garthwaite, complete in original colours, as will the ex-Juha Kankkunen Lancia Delta Integrale of Andover farmer Rod Bennett.

There will also be the usual plethora of two-wheel drive cars, headed by Northallerton's Charlie Taylor and co-driver Steve Beilby in their Ford Escort Mk2.

Spectators are welcome but are advised that access to the forest is strictly regulated and that the stages are a considerable walk - up to three miles and occasionally in thick undergrowth - from the only car parking available as most tracks in the forest are being used competitively.

* Red Bull Racing have pulled off a major coup by securing the services of top Formula One designer Adrian Newey from McLaren.

The ambitious team's preparations for the opening race of the 2006 season in Bahrain in March have been further boosted by Newey's arrival, with Red Bull having earlier agreed a deal to have Ferrari engines powering their cars next year.