Mills' local knowledge has proved a big help to Solberg

The Subaru pairing have had a difficult year, but co-driver Mills hopes conditions will be in their favour for the last rally of the 2006 season.

"I want mud up to my ankles," said Newtown-man Mills, 43. "I know the course well. Leg two at Epynt is just down the road from my house."

Last year's race was marred by the death of Briton Michael 'Beef' Park.

The Peugeot co-driver was killed on the penultimate stage after the car he was in, driven by Estonian Markko Martin, hit a tree.

Sebastien Loeb was leading at the time of the crash but took deliberate time penalties to ensure he did not take his second world title in such tragic circumstances.

Loeb, who has already won the drivers' crown, is sidelined this time around while he recovers from a broken arm, leaving Ford's Marcus Gronholm as favourite for the race.

Mikko Hirvonen and Mark Higgins are expected to challenge their team-mate for victory, while Citroen's Xavier Pons and Dani Sordo are also likely to come into the reckoning.

A staggering 118 cars - the biggest entry of the year - will cross the start ramp at the ceremonial opening of the event outside Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Thursday.

The 754-mile race concludes back at the stadium on Sunday.

The race has been held in September for the last two years but has reclaimed its traditional winter date as the final round of the 16-event championship.

Apart from the indoor special stage in the stadium, all stages are held on tough, privately-owned gravel tracks.

Most road sections are in regular use, either by military vehicles on the most northerly stages or by lorries transporting logs to timber yards.