Oxford's Steve 'Wolf' Hill, the defending RallySprint Champion, will drive his four-wheel drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3 at the opening round of the 2001 Loctite National RallySprint Championship at Silverstone on Sunday.

The event has attracted its best entry - including six national rally champions and three rallycross champions - who between them have won more than 20 major titles.

The inaugural RallySprint champion, Ian Gwynne, of Brackley, will be kicking up the dust in his Subaru Impreza, and lap record holder, Roger Duckworth, of Towcester, will debut a new turbo-charged Subaru Impreza WRC.

Topping the bill will be Markku Alen. The 50-year old 'Flying Finn' has won 20 world championship events during his illustrious career - mostly in works Martini Lancia Delta S4s and HF Integrales during the 1980s.

He will drive a state-of-the-art Subaru Impreza - one of 12 entered.

Other interesting entries include Monaco-based former American Le Mans racing driver, Jonathan 'The Gentleman' Finch and former British Rallycross Champion Tony Bardy, who will drive a rarely-seen, but enormous, light and powerful Nissan Sunny GTi-R.

In addition to the opening round of the National RallySprint Championship, a dozen Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts will be contesting the first Dunlop-backed Mick Jones Escort Challenge.

The paddock will be accessible and free, and spectators are welcome to mingle with the drivers in the carnival atmosphere. There will be plenty of catering plus other attractions.

Admission to the opening round of the 2001 Loctite National RallySprint Championship on Sunday is £12 for adults, with a £2 discount for booking in advance. Contact the Silverstone Ticket Hotline: 01327 850 228, under 16s free.

*Jason Plato, leader of the www.theAA.com British Touring Car Championship, cannot wait to carry the maximum weight penalty in his car.

The 33-year-old Oxford driver is not exactly relishing having his speedy Vauxhall burdened with more and more success ballast, but says that at least he will know where he stands when the maximum 60kg is put on board.

Despite a penalty of 24kg at the last round at Thruxton, Plato recorded his first victory of the season.

But that means the extra weight his Oxfordshire-built Triple Eight Race Engineering Astra must carry at Oulton Park increases to 51kg.

"Once we've reached 60kg that's the maximum and they can't put any more on," said Plato. "The sooner we get there the better."