69 British rally drivers started the year with hopes of lifting the Roger Clark Award and the £50,000 prize fund. After 10 months of rallying at all levels the 18 judges have now announced the name of the 6 finalists. Steve Head (Carnforth) together with co-driver Andrew Dugdale (Penrith) have been chosen, following their superb string of results in the British Rally Championship.

The pair hope to be named as the top rising stars in British rallying, following in the footsteps of Roger Clark, Colin McRae and Richard Burns. The Roger Clark Award will be presented to a deserving driver who has been identified as someone with raw talent, speed, consistency, results and personality who is also promotable and has the potential to go all the way to become a future works driver.

The annual award is a package of funding, support, training and personal introductions, designed and managed to assist and encourage a chosen rally driver in their quest to become a future world champion.

"I was so excited when I found out I had made it to the final that I almost ran the bin man over as I turned out of the drive" said an ecstatic Head.

The final to be held on October 26 will be an assessment of various driving disciplines in various Rally Cars on different surfaces. Other activities will include media interviews, a safe road driving assessment, pace-noting consistency and fitness-team building exercises.

Steve and Andrew know that the competition will be tough but they are confident of doing well. "We'll be preparing just like any other rally", said Dugdale. "We've started preparation for the final already, there's still some work to do, but we'll go out and enjoy it." Steve and Andrew would also like to thank everybody who voted for them on the Award's website.