With the first round of the British Rally Championship getting underway next week the Hankook SJR team is making its final preparations for its first assault on Britain's premier rally series.

Former British Rally Champion Gwyndaf Evans and young hotshot Stuart Jones will spearhead the team's campaign in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship which beings in Carlisle on Saturday May 13.

The team line-up was announced on the world stage at Autosport International in January giving the Hankook SJR Team time to build and test the Mitsubishi Evo 9 cars the drivers will use on this year's championship.

"It seems a long time since we announced the drivers but it has given everyone behind the scenes the time needed to plan a serious BRC campaign,'' said Hankook Motorsport manager Mike Patterson.

"The team has been testing extensively in Wales ahead of the Carlisle-based Pirelli Rally which takes in some of the toughest gravel stages in the country,'' said Mike.

"The weather will play a huge role in tyre selection for the rally but we have been testing in wet and dry conditions to fine tune the best tyres for all eventualities.''

In addition to testing the cars and tyres both Gwyndaf and Stuart have been busy preparing themselves mentally and physically for the task ahead and are keen to get the championship underway.

Stuart has already been competing on the gravel and asphalt with a win on the Winter Stages in Telford earlier this year and an impressive class result on the Rallye Catalunya - a round of the World Rally championship.

Meanwhile Gwyndaf has been integral in the development of the cars being used this season and in helping Stuart step up to a full assault on the British Rally Championship.

Final testing is planned for this week before the crews head to Carlisle for the recce and rally which gets underway in Carlisle on Saturday May 13 for two full days of action before the finish on Sunday afternoon.