MALTON brothers Tom and Sam Spencer are gearing up for one of Britain's most challenging rallies this weekend having paired together for the first time.

The duo are among several Malton Motor Club (MMC) crews going to the Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland to contest the 45th running of the Tunnock's Mull Rally, one of the longest-standing rallies in the UK. The event, comprising 150 miles of stages on closed public roads across the island, attracts crews from throughout the country

The Spencers are no strangers to Mull roads having competed here seven times between them, but this will be Tom's debut driving on the event and the first time they have contested it together.

Having only competed on one stage rally previously, the pair will start near the back of the field as car 133, but Tom hopes to draw on his road rallying experience as the majority of the event is run in the dark. The Vauxhall Corsa crew are backed by local businesses J Skelton Garage Services and Crane Engineers Ltd and will be one of several crews from Malton Motor Club making the 350-mile trip north.

The Spencers both normally navigate but, as they have teamed up, they leave their regular drivers with new partners. Sam's replacement alongside MMC mate Geoff Dean is the experienced Martin Woodcock, while Tom's driver for the past three years, Rob Meynell, has recruited Mull newcomer Tommy Rogers to sit alongside him in his immaculately prepared Mini Clubman. Rogers will be competing on only his second rally.

Fellow MMC members competing include event stalwarts Billy Bird and Plug Pulleyn, who start at 25 in their Vauxhall Chevette, Helperby's Curly Haigh and Sally Peacock at 26 in their Ford Escort, and Raskelf's Grum Wilcock and Donna Harper at 27 in their Opel Manta.

With just seconds usually separating these three crews, it's set to be a close battle for the honour of top Malton Motor Club crew.

Keeping family rivalry alive, Harper's younger sister, Nicola, will compete on the event for the first time in five years as she starts as car 129 in her trusty Skoda Felicia, with York's Suzanne Barker on the notes.

Pickering's Dick Wardle will again partner Settle driver Jonathan Mounsey and the Mitsubishi crew are likely contenders for a top 10 finish after good results in the past few years.

The rally starts on Friday at 7.30pm and runs over three legs until 2am on Sunday morning. More information and results can be found at mullrally.org