VANCOUVER, BC -- Canadian rally champion and Peugeot 206 Super Cup driver Patrick Richard flies into the UK this weekend ahead of his assault on next week's Network Q Rally Great Britain, the final round of the 2002 FIA World Rally Championship. This marks the first time that a Canadian driver has been accepted into a modern-era World Rally Championship event outside of North America.

The 28 year old from Vancouver will be teaming up with co-driver Alyson Marlow for the rally - at the wheel of a Group N Subaru Impreza. It will be Richard's first World Rally Championship event, and is a challenge the Canadian is eagerly looking forward to tackling.

"I have heard so much about the rally, and after spending part of my year in the UK it seems to be a good way of ending my British season," said Pat, who will fly straight back to Canada after the event for the final round of his home championship.

In Canada, Richard is part of the Subaru Canada Rally Team, winning this year's Canadian championship. He also leads the North American Rally Cup outright with one round remaining, and has already clinched that series' Group N title. Despite his successes at home, he has been using the UK-based Peugeot 206 Super Cup one-make series as a platform for learning pace notes - something which is still very new in North America - where most of the rallies are driven blind.

"Alyson and I have worked hard to fine tune my notes during the year and the Network Q is going to be a real test of all that work," said Pat.

He's keen to get behind the wheel of the car he will use on the rally next week. With Subaru Canada unable to extend their commitment beyond home borders, Richard is entered as an independent in the world-class event, and the pair will get the first chance to test the Prodrive-built car on Monday ahead of the Network Q recconnaisance. Thursday evening's superspecial spectator stage in Cardiff will be the first time Richard will be driving the car in anger.

For Alyson this year's Network Q will be her seventh - the last six have been with husband Innes Marlow and she's looking forward to being back on the world stage. "I certainly didn't expect to be competing in the rally this year and hopefully it will prove an exciting note on which to end the 2002 rally season."

With over 120,000 paying spectators and same-day international television coverage spanning 180 countries, the 2002 Rally Great Britain will be televised daily in North America on the Speed channel and on RDS in Quebec beginning Thursday, November 14th.

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