PRESCOTT stages the next round of the 2005 British Hillclimb Championship this weekend - a title already in the hands of Martin Groves who won in Northern Ireland four weeks a ago.

Since then Groves has been going even faster, breaking his own two-month-old hill record at the big Shelsley Walsh meeting last month. Next in his sights then must be the outright record at the Gloucestershire circuit situated between the villages of Gotherington and Gretton - a record that is currently held by 2004 last year's champion Adam Fleetwood.

While Groves will be displaying the elite No 1 plate next season, there's no let-up in the fight for runners-up spot with three of the sport's top drivers vying for second place.

And all three are in top form and success at Prescott is vital for Brackley's Willem Toet, Ludlow's Roger Moran and Mike Dean from Guernsey to find out who will finish second behind Groves.

There wil be other drivers out to steal the limelight with Fleetwood making a guest appearance sharing an 100cc racer with younger brother Todd.

Deryk Young from Hereford was fastest at the track's June meeting, while local racer Chris Merrick, the vastly experienced Rob Turnbull (Sutton Coldfield) and Simon Durling (Sevenoaks) will be all out to impress.

Practice takes place on Saturday with the competitive runs starting at 10am the next day. The 12 fastest drivers in the morning runs will go forward to the first points-scoring title run-off before lunch and the format is repeated in the afternoon with the second run-off completing the programme.

Spectators will be treated to additional action other than the national championship including the British Leaders Series, Clarks Motorcycles Midland Championship and the Bugatti Owners' Club's Prescott Gold Cup.

Othet local drivers in action include Phil Cooke from Evesham, Beckford's Simon Bloomfield, William Rivers-Fletcher (Stretton-on-Fosse) and Prescott's own Frank Forbes.

Adult admission is £10 on Sat-urday and £15 on Sunday. Acc-ompanied children under 14 are admitted free and there is free parking.