The 2001 World Rally Championship draws to its conclusion this week (November 22-25) with four drivers still in with a chance of the title in possibly the closest finish since the inception of the drivers' championship in 1979. Seventeen stages in the Welsh forests, starting with the Thursday night Super Special in Cardiff, will determine the outcome.

Ford's Colin McRae heads the standings entering the final round, following his fifth place finish in the controversial Rally Australia last month. On his home event, the Scotsman will be looking to press home his advantage, but his most likely challenger looks to be fellow Briton Richard Burns (Subaru). Burns lies only two points behind McRae, and is on form following his second place on the gravel roads of Australia.

Prior to that Burns had taken victory in New Zealand, second in Finland and fourth in Corsica - only let down by a first stage retirement in San Remo. Splitting the two Britons is Tommi Makinen. The four-time world champion is having a tough time at present - his sixth place finish in Australia was his first points haul since the Safari Rally in June. He is suffering not only teething problems with his new Mitsubishi Lancer, but following his massive crash in Corsica, which injured regular co-driver Risto Mannisenmäki, he is suffering from a fractured bone in his back.

The Finn's best hope for the championship is for McRae and Burns not to finish and to pick up a couple of points. The championship outsider is Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who needs to win the event in his Ford Focus, and hope for the misfortunes of others. Marcus Gronholm, the outgoing champion, took victory in his Peugeot in Australia and extensive testing in Britain means he is likely to be the man to watch on the gravel roads. He is no longer able to retain his title, but will be looking to gain enough points to move ahead of team-mate Harri Rovanpera in the standings.

Gronholm's main priority is to secure a Peugeot victory in the manufacturer's championship, which the French marque currently leads by four points. Didier Auriol and Gilles Panizzi's maximum points hauls on the asphalt rallies of San Remo and Corsica stand Peugeot in good stead, and Auriol will be looking to sign-off in style, as he is leaving Peugeot at the end of the season. Asphalt specialist Panizzi will be running a private Peugeot on the Rally GB, the third works car being taken by Rovanpera.

Supporting McRae and Sainz's championship charge will be Mark Higgins, who takes over from the departed Francois Delecour at Ford. Burns has the strongest team line-up behind him, with rapid Norwegian Petter Solberg, and Estonian young-gun Markko Martin joining him in the three-car team. Freddy Loix drives his last event as Mitsubishi number two, before his move to Hyundai next season - the young Belgian will be looking for a point's finish in his last rally for the team.

Completing the team entries are the Hyundai and Skoda crews. Alister McRae, Kenneth Eriksson and Piero Liatti will be looking for a point's finish in Cardiff, despite the Accent WRC suffering a lack of power when compared to its rivals. Armin Schwarz and Bruno Thiry will drive for Skoda, as they look to hold onto fifth in the championship.

Drivers Championship:
1. Colin McRae 42pts
2. Tommi Makinen 41pts
3. Richard Burns 40pts
4. Carlos Sainz 33pts
5. Harri Rovanpera 30pts
6. Marcus Gronholm 26pts