FOCUS ON FINAL RALLY ROUND AT BATHURST

The final round of the Globalstar Australian Rally Championship, the Bathurst event will see the debut of the new Ford TeamRS Focus. 

Driver Michael Guest and co-driver Mark Stacey have tested the car -- developed under Group N (P) regs -- in the lead up to the event and expect the new rear-wheel-drive prototype to fare well.

"The new Focus is a very strong car technically. The handling is outstanding and with added power of the larger capacity engine it will be something to watch," said Team RS driver Michael Guest.

"The chance to see a rear-wheel drive car will make it popular for the spectators and the sound from the normally aspirated engine will make it stand out from the opposition," Guest said.

Subaru's Cody Crocker has already locked up the 2005 title chase, however, with the final championship round attracting a 50 per cent points bonus the chase for second place will go down to the wire between Crocker's teammate Dean Herridge, Mitsubishi driver Scott Pedder (pictured) and Toyota's Simon Evans.

The Privateers Cup remains up for grabs six drivers still in with a mathematical chance of winning. Although Brad Goldsbrough (Subaru, also pictured) currently tops the Privateers points, he will need a good run at Bathurst to secure the Privateer's title, and is expected to face tough competition from closest rivals Steve Glenney, Jack Monkhouse and Darren Windus.

The WPS Rally Bathurst will also be the championship decider in the Subaru RS Challenge class, with rising stars Eli Evans and Will Orders set to figure prominently in the battle for overall honours.

WPS Rally Bathurst is an inaugural event for the New South Wales round of the championship. Bathurst's iconic Mount Panorama will be the centre of much of the rally activity, with most of the stages located within close proximity to famous racing circuit at nearby Sunny Corner.

Teams will use the new pit and paddock facilities at Mount Panorama as the NEC Service Park, and the event will also run two night 'Super Special Stages' on a purpose-built rally course that incorporates the famous asphalt circuit.