GUY Wilks is going full-throttle to earn a seat in Suzuki's new World Rally Championship car.

Yesterday's announcement by the Japanese manufacturer that it will be running a WRC team from August 2007 has fuelled the Darlington driver's long-held ambition to compete with the best in the world.

Wilks, 25, has long been tipped as a potential world champion and Suzuki's announcement at the Geneva Motor Show that it will introduce its new SX4 into the fray means that dream might now be a step closer reality.

Wilks has been runner-up in the Junior World Rally Championship twice in successive seasons and is hoping to make it third time lucky this season, especially now he has the added incentive of cementing a place in next year's senior team.

"It's very exciting for myself to be with the team already. It's a good opportunity, but by no means does it mean I have the right just to step into the team when they bring the car along - I have to fight for my place with everybody else," said Wilks.

"It's important now that I show strength of character. They know I can get results. I know what they are capable of as a team, they know what I am capable of as a driver, we work well together, it's now just a case of putting myself in the best possible position to be picked to drive that car next year."

Wilks, who had a disappointing opening round of this year's JWRC campaign in Sweden, denies that the opportunity piles added pressure on his shoulders.

"The biggest pressure I feel comes from myself," he said.

"I want to perform at my best whatever environment I am in, whether it's Junior World Championship, British Championship or World Championship. There is no extra pressure, just a very definite goal to aim for."

In an effort to demonstrate just how hungry he is for a shot at the big time, Wilks is actively seeking a temporary drive in a WRC car this season.

As Suzuki is not competing at every round of the WRC Championship it gives Wilks the opportunity to gain some added experience elsewhere.

"The only other thing to do to try and show them I am good enough is to try and get an outing in a World Rally Car," he said.

"To do that, however, I need sponsorship. That is one way that I can show to them that I can go fast in a World Rally Car before they have to take a gamble on me.

"It's just a question of finding the funding to do it, even if it is just for one event. I have done it a couple of times in the British Isles, but it would be nice to be able to go and do it at the top level - it would be an extra feather in my cap."

Wilks'desire is clear to see and, in his mid-20s, he has his best years ahead of him. However, he knows all too well that it's all about being in the right place at the right time. He just hopes that time is now.

"It would be very easy for me at the moment, having not had the best of starts to the championship, to get down," he said.

"But I have to get back up there, start winning events and give it my all so that I can say, if it does come, not that I deserved it, but that I worked damned hard and I got there.

"If it doesn't at least I can say I gave it my all, 110 per cent, and it wasn't meant to be.

"There are more positives than negatives when it comes to gaining that seat and if it doesn't happen it won't be for the want of trying.

Published: 01/03/2006