Rally GB chiefs say big 2013 entry vindicates changes to WRC round

Coe and his team have revealed an entry boasting 165 crews across the international and two national rounds.

The WRC event will start with 65 of those runners, more than 100 per cent up on the 31 who began the 2012 event.

"We're delighted with the level of entries we've seen," said Coe. "We targeted 150 across the events and we've more than achieved that.

"We asked the competitors what would bring them back to this event, they told us, we delivered that and they have come back. The move north and the return to the traditional November date has been vital for this event."

Coe said his team would now strive to ensure Rally GB was the best event in the championship.

"We've had a rough time," said Coe, "but we have pulled back from that. We've got a new base, new stages, the marketing and promotion of the event has been upgraded - everything is in place now.

"I think we're back at the top of the tree, which was our stated aim when we set out on this journey of change 12 months ago.

"Things are looking very, very good for the event, but we won't stop here. We will now have to use what we have learned to push this thing on and drive it further and further. We now have to look to where we want to be in five years.

"In those five years, we are looking to further improve the appeal of rallying and Rally GB. We want to take rallying to the new audience."

The Deeside-based Rally GB runs from November 14-18.