FOREST action gets underway in the Network Q Rally GB today as the cream of the world's rally crews head into south Wales.

Britain's final round of the World Rally Championship got underway with a super special stage in Cardiff last night but today the 90 crews head for the first full day of competition in the tough Welsh forests.

New world champion Marcus Gronholm won the event last year and as the man on form will be the driver everyone wants to beat but Britons Richard Burns and Colin McRae will be looking to shine on their home event.

For McRae it is his final rally as part of the Ford team before he switches to Citron next year and the Scot is once again partnered by Derek Ringer who co-drove on the recent Rally Australia.

Hampshire interest focuses on top local driver Justin Dale who received a last minute call and is seeded 30th in the event. He is competing with co-driver Andrew Bargery in a Subaru Impreza.

Also in a Subaru is Hampshire co-driver Alyson Marlow who has once again teamed up with Canadian Rally Champion Pat Richard. The rally marks a WRC debut for Pat while Alyson has competed on the event with her husband Innes six times previously.

This year's rally will come under even greater scrutiny from FIA, the sport's world governing body, which is sending an extra observer to monitor safety. Thirteen people were injured last year when the Ford Focus of Spain's Carlos Sainz slid off the road during a special stage in the forests of west Wales.

The people were initially thought to be spectators but it was later revealed they were volunteer marshals and included a 13-year-old girl who suffered a broken leg.

A new ticketing plan for spectators numbers will again be limited to 150,000 over the four days and guarantee anybody who buys a ticket early to a car park place and a viewing spot.

Increased and improved viewing areas will also be introduced over the coming years in an attempt to stop rally fans wandering into dangerous areas for a better view of cars which can scream through the forests at over 100mph.