A NEW name and a new format is set to make the Gibson's of Brock Millennium Rally a Christmas cracker.

Renamed in honour of being the last rally of the century, the Bolton-le-Moors Car Club-organised event will be held over two days, December 27 and 28, at the Park Hall Hotel complex at Charnock Richard.

And the organisers are expecting a bumper entry, thanks to a big increase in stage mileage.

"Extending the rally is our way of marking the end of the millennium," explained club secretary Guy Wickham.

"Organising a two-day event involves extra cost, but we are offering a 40 per cent increase in mileage for a 10 per cent increase in the entry fee from 1997 and 1998.

"In addition, there are reduced accommodation rates at Park Hall, excellent facilities for spectators, guests and sponsors, and the Rally Disco will be held on the evening after the first leg of the rally.

"The gravel tracks have been regraded in readiness for the cars and their use will be varied to ensure that any cutting-up is minimised.

"With daylight scrutineering, sociable start times and the disco, we hope that rally will be a social as much as a sporting occasion."

Park Hall has hosted the rally for the past six years, and the gravel and tarmac roads around the hotel and adjoining Camelot theme park provide a stern test of driving skill and stamina. And in a late change to the schedule, the organisers have replaced the proposed Neil Howard Historic Rally, due to run on the second day, with a Trophy event for Historics, Post-Historics and Modern cars.

Competitors forced to retire from the first day's stages will be allowed to re-start, subject to the car being repaired and re-scrutineered.

"The entry for Historics was a little thin, so we decided this would appeal to drivers and spectators alike," added Mr Wickham.

"There are no overnight parc ferme restrictions, so anyone who has retired on the first day can take their car away, get it fixed and run in the Trophy rally."

Last year's winner Rob Barry, from Belmont, will return in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo to defend his title against the expected 70-strong entry.

With his eagerly-anticipated Ford Escort WRC still being built, Blackburn's Nigel Worswick will make do with his 'spare' Escort Mk II.

After retiring last year after just one stage, Worswick - a three times winner at Park Hall - is guaranteed to put on an entertaining display for the spectators.

Other early entries include Hapton's Kevin Furber - fresh from his Network Q Rally success - in the Nortel Networks Peugeot 106 GTi, George Hill (Mitsubishi Evo), Dave Holland (Escort Mk I) and Ken Skidmore (Mitsubishi Evo).

Entries close on December 24, but are still available from Linda Whitmore, tel: 01925 810143 or 0802 716114. TIMETABLE-

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27 (8.30-11am): Scrutineering and documentation for Millennium Rally; 11.30am: First car starts leg one Millennium Rally; 4-4.30pm: Scrutineering and documentation for Trophy Rally; 4.30pm: Final car finishes leg one; 5pm: Interim results and restart times for leg two posted; 8pm: Rally Disco.

DECEMBER 28 (9-9.30am): Scrutineering and documentation for Trophy Rally; 10am: First cars starts Trophy stage one; 10.20am: First car starts Millennium Rally leg two; 5pm: Final car finishes; 6pm: Presentation of awards.

STAGE MILEAGE - Leg one: Six stages covering 14 miles; Leg two: Eight stages covering 21 miles; Total: 14 stages (35 miles); The Neil Howard Trophy Rally: 21 miles over eight stages.

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