Tom Cave ready for local derby in Wales

Welsh rally driver Tom Cave is relishing the prospect of a local derby next weekend, as he approaches his fifth Wales Rally GB and the finale of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship. Tom will be competing directly against fellow Welshman Elfyn Evans, both in Ford Fiesta R5s, as well as former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins and former BRC competitor, Robert Barrable, also in Fiesta R5s.

Tom's final event of 2013 will be his most challenging; having finished third in the MSA British Rally Championship, the 21 year-old will compete in his fifth Wales Rally GB, having debuted in the WRC in 2008 at the wheel of his M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta ST. His last outing was in 2012, when he finished second in the SWRC category, driving for the works Proton Motorsports team.

This year, he has secured a Ford Fiesta R5 for the event, arguably his most ambitious attempt and without doubt, the highest level he could hope for. With the support of Morris Lubricants, the Trefeddian Hotel and Cambrian Training and run by MSL Motorsport, Tom and co-driver Ieuan Thomas are ready for the challenge.

In addition to driving a car with no experience, he will also find himself driving much of the route for the first time, despite having done the event four times already. The season finale has undergone radical changes for 2013, with the base moving from south to North Wales, to the Toyota plant at Deeside. With this comes a series of new stages and new challenges, including the first three stages run in full darkness on Thursday evening.

One constant in Wales though is the weather and its inconsistency. November can see anything from bright sunshine and chilly temperatures to fog, rain and even snow. The long-range weather forecast suggests temperatures will approach double figures during the day with the chance of rain at the beginning of the event. However, this can change quickly and with the number of DMack tyres limited by the event regulations and one day - Saturday - with no opportunity to service the cars or replace tyres, choice and management will be crucial.

Despite this, Tom is excited by the prospect of the event; "I think it's going to be a fantastic event and a great opportunity for us. I know the Fiesta R5 is a superb car - look at how Elfyn has gone this year - and the DMack tyres we will be using have an excellent pedigree. Having spent some time with the MSL Motorsport team this week [who will be running the car], I know that we have all the resources and back-up to have an excellent rally.

"It's going to be a tough event - new car, new stages, three in darkness and Saturday with no service at all during the day - but Ieuan and I are up for it. I'm really looking forward to seeing how our pace compares with Elfyn, who has more experience of the car and Mark, who's experience is huge. Mark is regarded as Welsh and I think three Welshmen battling it out on some of the best stages in the world in the same car on Wales Rally GB is going to be very exciting."

The event begins with the ceremonial start in Llandudno on the evening of Thursday 14 November followed by three stages in darkness, before the crews head back to service in Deeside. Friday 15 November sees six classic Wales Rally GB stages run in two loops of three in mid-Wales, with a remote service halt in Newtown.

Saturday comprises six new stages, including two runs around the Chirk Castle spectator stage but with no service available during the day, meaning the crews will have to be completely self-reliant.

Sunday 17 November sees six final stages, culminating with the Great Orme Road running along the Orme Peninsula before the podium celebrations, again in Llandudno.