Knoxville, TN -- Rally West Virginia, the third round of the 2006 Eastern States Rally Championship (ESRC), will take place this weekend on the gravel roads of Randolph County, WV. The ESRC events range from New York to Tennessee and draw the top names in U.S. stage rallying.

With the Mid-Atlantic and New England states hosting the largest number of US licensed stage rally drivers nationally, Rally West Virginia has attracted an excellent field for this event. 30 teams are entered, with names like O’Brien, Farrell, Arce and Donnelly. Competition should be close for this weekend’s event.

Odds on favorite is Danny O’Brien in a Subaru WRX STi to take the overall. Look for shots by Patrick and Bernard Farrell, Charlie Donnelly in his new Mitsubishi Evo VIII, and Scott Gardner and Constantine Montopoulas in their Audi Quattro. The 2005 Super Stock champions Emilio Arce and Sarah Gardescu are always in the fight and could be on top at the finish.

In the two wheel drive classes, the late minute entry of 2005 two wheel drive champion Mark Lawrence in his Chris Havas powered VW Golf should provide very close competition with multi-time two wheel drive champion Randy Bailey of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. Chasing these two teams will be Virginians Josh and Jeremy Wimpey in their VW Golf GTI and North Carolina’s Andrew Frick and Simon Wright in the US/UK Racing VW Golf GTI.

Promoter John Shirley is excited about this new event. "We would like to thank the Randolph County CVB for its help in organizing this event and the West Virginia Motorsports Council for its invitation to run our event in its great state.”

“We've got a field of 30 cars and we've got 58 special stage miles that are both fast and technical," Shirley continued, "The rally should prove to be a real battle, with some excellently matched drivers, and excellent road conditions."

ESRC Series Coordinator Dr. Kendall Russell of Rally Promotions, LLC, added, "With the large and competitive field that Rally West Virginia has attracted, you're going to see some of the best racing this side of the Atlantic."

The 2006 running of the Rally West Virginia is sanctioned by NASA Rally Sport, organized by Rally Promotions LLC., and constitutes Round Three of the ESRC, coordinated by Rally Promotions, LLC. For more information, visit www.rallywestvirginia.net, www.nasarallysport.com, or contact Wilson von Kessler at wilson@nasarallysport.com.