ST TEATH rallying ace Matt Cotton heads to the third round of the 2009 BTRDA Rally Series, this weekend's Betta Somerset Stages, looking to re-ignite his championship hopes and is hoping for better luck on the team's home event.

Matt, who finished third overall in the Citroen C2R2cup in 2008, will be joined once again by Will Rogers in the Cannock Electrical and Mechanical supported MG ZR and the pair are anticipating a fierce fight for a number of different honours.

Not only are they hoping to feature strongly in the 1.4L class, as well as in the MG Cup but there is also the small issue of intra team rivalry as the CEM Rally Team extend to four cars for the event.

The Cannock Electrical and Mechanical Rally Team sees the friendly rivalry resumed between Matt and team boss Jim Ward. But joining the pair in another two, virtually identical Chris Wright Competitions run MG ZR's are two very rapid pilots in their own right.

Gary Wright will be joined by Glyn Thomas in one car, whilst former British Rally championship contender Phil McVay will contest the event as the teams token 'star in a reasonably priced car' with Nick Cadwall­ader on the notes.

Matt said: "Last time out on the Malcolm Wilson Stages my progress was halted by a drive shaft, but that was due to the really rough nature of the stages. Hopefully we'll have a faultless rally this weekend but I'm expecting tough competition with within the team.

"The Somerset Stages is always a well run and very enjoyable event and as such I'm really looking forward to this weekends rally. Even though there are no team orders I'm still expecting a fierce fight on my hands but I'm sure we'll all have a laugh."

The Betta Somerset Stages starts from Minehead on Saturday morning at 8am. After no less than 10 high speed stages, including two runs up the tarmac Porlock Hill, the crews head back to the finish with the first car expected back at around 3.30pm.

The rally is a scoring round for the BTRDA Rally Series, the Rally First Series and the MG Cup, all championships of which Matt is chasing points for.