After a fine top six placing on the previous round in Wales, Galway driver Ross Forde heads to the infamous Kielder Forest next weekend for round three of the Kick Energy Fiesta Sport Trophy UK which takes place with the Carlisle-based Pirelli Challenge.

Following improvements to his Motorsport Ireland and Irish Sports Council-backed Ford Fiesta, the tracks of Europe's largest man-made forest will hopefully suit the young Irishman and having retained the services of co driver Gary McElhinney for this event, he's hoping to improve on his sixth placing in the current championship standings:

"We are looking forward to the next round as we have really settled in with the car. I'm testing this forthcoming week and after looking at the times from the last round, we are fired up for the Pirelli. We were setting top three stage times constantly so I'm sure we can improve on that again and I'm delighted that Gary will be calling the notes again.

"I did the Pirelli Rally last year in the Suzuki Swift and was leading with only one stage to go but the car broke down so I'll be hoping for a better result. I did the full recce and all stages except one last year so hopefully this will stand me in good stead. I like the dark so I'm looking forward to the night stages too."

Forde is contesting a full season in the series this year in his M-Sport-run Ford Fiesta with the support of Global Group Ireland as his prize for winning the 2008 Billy Coleman Award.

The 51-stage mile Pirelli Challenge gets underway on Friday evening at 19.05 from Carlisle Racecourse with a pair of 8.5 mile stages to the north and after the overnight halt, the remaining crews will tackle a loop of four classic stages around Kielder Water on Saturday morning before the finish back at Carlisle Racecourse around 14.00.

For full details, including spectator information, go to www.pirelliinternationalrally.co.uk and for championship positions, pictures and other information, visit www.fiestasportingtrophy.co.uk

Championship Positions

1 Matt Edwards 55
2 Kris Hall 50
3 Mark Donnelly 42
4 Kyle Orr 40
5 Barry Greer 30
6 Ross Forde 26
7 Craig Breen 25
8 Rory Hall 25
9 John Boyd 22
10 Martyn Jones 22

ENDS

Kick Energy Fiesta Sport Trophy UK (best 5 from 7 rounds count)

1 Malcolm Wilson Rally - 7th March
2 Bulldog Rally - 28th March
3 Pirelli Challenge - 17th/18th April
4 RSAC Scottish Rally - 27th June
5 Isle of Man Rally - 10th/11th July
6 Ulster Rally - 21st/23rd August
7 Trackrod Rally - 26th September

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