HIGHWORTH rally driver Shelly Taunt and regular co-driver Julie Murphy will be taking part in the Sherwood Forest-based Premier Rally Event this weekend against a highly competitive entry of modern and historic cars.

Taunt recently won the 'Driver of The Day Award' presented to her by Lord March when she entertained the huge crowds at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

“Apart from taking part in the world’s largest motorsport garden party, the Premier Rally will be our first competitive outing this year,” said Taunt.

“Our last event was this rally 12 months ago when we finished eighth overall.

"Having not competed in a year we’re just hoping for a good clean run and a fairly respectable result."

Taunt and Murphy’s absence from rallying has enabled them to save funding for a tilt at the Sol Rally Barbados which takes place in May 2015.

Julie said: “We have been working very hard to find the budget to compete in Barbados, and by dropping events this year it has at least given us a bit of a head start.

"However we are still looking for sponsorship to help us with the funding towards the costs of shipping the rally car across to the Caribbean.”