PCWRC: Nutahara leads Lancers back to Japan.

After a long absence from the WRC stages, the Group N-based Production Car World Rally Championship returns to action at this weekend's Rally Japan, with one Japanese driver particularly keen to show his rivals the way home.

While Toshihiro Arai may be the reigning class champion, and one of the crowd favourites, he will not be competing in the PCWRC as Japan is not one of his six nominated events. So, while Arai competes in a pukka WRC, his place at the head of the PCWRC leaderboard will, he hopes, be taken by Fumio Nutahara.

Although the Mitsubishi driver currently trails class leader Nasser Al-Attiyah by 24 points, the field is more open than usual as Al-Attiyah has also not nominated Japan among his sextet for the season, giving his rivals a chance to close the points gap. Although Al-Attiyah will remain on top of the table going into the next PCWRC event in Cyprus, a victory for Nutahara will move him to within four points of the lead.

The Japanese driver hasn't fared that well since his home event was elevated to WRC status, retiring in 2004 and finishing third in Group N last year, but he returns with a fine Monte Carlo round win under his belt and a new co-driver in the form of Britain's Daniel Barrett.

"This is the first time I've competed in the PCWRC since the second round at Rally Mexico," Nutahara revealed, "but, during that time, I've been aiming to achieve my eighth win on the All-Japan Rally Championship. Right now, I rank top in that series and, since Hokkaido is my home ground, I intend to give it all I have to gain victory in the PCWRC this weekend."

Although Nutahara must start the event as favourite, given the considerable experience of the Hokkaido roads gained from competing on the event since 2002 - when he finished a highly credible second overall - but knows he will face stiff opposition from his PCWRC rivals.

Argentina's Tango Rally squad of Marcos Ligato, Sebastian Beltran and Gabriel Pozzo have to be among the unluckiest in the championship this year and, having shown well on the three events they have contested so far this season, will want to add to Pozzo's second place on the Acropolis Rally. Likewise, San Marino's Mirco Baldacci has made plenty of progress since his switch from the Junior World Rally Championship, and came close to winning in Greece, before being held up by a slower competitor.

Meanwhile, Nutahara will also face a challenge from fellow countryman, and former Group N winner in Japan, Katsuhiko Taguchi. He may not be eligible for PWRC points this time around, but Taguchi is highly likely to challenge for outright Group N honours.

"The Lancer Evolution IX has seen steady progress, especially on the engine's torque, and it's a lot easier to handle on the Japanese stages," he said, "I think it will work to my advantage. Last year, I was running top in my class, but unfortunately I was forced to retire. This year, I think of it as revenge and definitely aim to finish. With that mind set, I think good results will automatically follow. "