As the 2001 championship draws towards its conclusion, the teams travel down-under and with four drivers in the hunt for this year's title, it is likely to go down to the wire on the Rally Great Britain. After two largely unsuccessful rounds in San Remo and Corsica, Mitsubishi's Tommi Makinen, Subaru's Richard Burns, and the Ford twins of Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz will be looking to strengthen their case for the crown.

Prior to last event, in Corsica, the World Rally Circus has become the focus for driver changes for next season. Four-times World Champion Tommi Makinen, who holds the joint championship at present, has decided to move away from the Mitsubishi team at which he has reaped his glory, and join Subaru for 2002. He will take the place of Richard Burns, who moves to Peugeot in search of the title. At present only Marcus Gronholm, Gilles Panizzi, Harri Rovanpera and Colin McRae are confirmed at their current teams.

Away from the 'transfer speculation', the title is still to be decided, and McRae will be looking to return to form on the gravel roads that were home to some of his successes in a mid-season trio of back-to-back victories. The tarmac roads of San Remo and Corsica didn't suit the Focus and its Pirelli tyres, and McRae finished out of the points of both occasions. The Scot is tied atop the standings with Makinen, who is now viewed as the underdog for the title with two rounds remaining. Having not scored any points since his victory on the Safari Rally in June, he now has a new and uncompetitive Lancer WRC to get used to. He ended his Corsica Rally with the car on its roof, and his co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki needing hospital treatment for back and neck injuries. With Mannisenmaki unfit for the Australian event, fellow Finn, Timo Hantunen, will take his place.

Richard Burns was the only one of the championship contenders to score points in Corsica, having claimed fourth position thanks to team-mate Petter Solberg, who incurred a time penalty to reverse their finishing positions. Sainz is also in contention for the championship, and will be looking to bounce back from his DNF in Corsica - only the third time he has failed to score points this season. Marcus Gronholm and Didier Auriol lead the charge for Peugeot, who are looking to challenge Ford's lead of the manufacturer's championship. Also in contention for Peugeot is Harri Rovanpera, who ran as a privateer in Corsica as asphalt-specialist Gilles Panizzi guided his Peugeot to second position.

Also in contention are Ford's Francois Delecour, and Subaru's Solberg, who took second position on the Acropolis Rally earlier this year. Solberg is supported by Estonian Markko Martin, and the Japanese Toshi Arai in the Subaru team. Belgian Freddy Loix is another driver to watch, campaigning in the second works Mitsubishi. The Hyundai team of Alister McRae and Piero Liatti and Skoda crew of Armin Schwarz and Bruno Thiry complete the works efforts.

The rally begins early on Friday (2nd November) local time.

Drivers Championship Standings:
1. Tommi Makinen 40
2. Colin McRae 40
3. Richard Burns 34
4. Carlos Sainz 33
5. Harri Rovanpera 27
6. Gilles Panizzi 22