THE axing of this weekend's Malcolm Wilson Rally has left several East Lancashire drivers sidelined.

Slaidburn's John Thompson, ironically a farmer himself, was expected to be one of the contenders for overall victory in his Track-Tec Escort Cosworth.

Fourth overall on last month's Wyedean BTRDA opener, Thompson is an acknowledged master of the Lake District stages and a multiple winner of the Grizedale Stages.

And the postponement is a double blow for Blackburn's Nigel Worswick, who will be forced to miss the re-arranged date as it clashes with the Manx National Rally, where he is scheduled to make a long-awaited debut with his new Escort World Rally Car.

He said: "I was looking forward to doing the rally in my Escort Mk2, although you have to keep things in perspective. We all enjoy our sport but it is only that; there are people's livelihoods at stake with this crisis."

Another driver facing a long lay-off is Volkwagen Polo challenger David Bateson, from Barrowford, who was planning to use the event as a 'shakedown' for his new car prior to the Rally of Wales the following week. Also due to start this weekend was former ANWCC champion Ian Winstanley, from Trawden, in his Peugeot 205GTi and Blackburn's Keith Turner in his Ford Escort Mk2.