AFTER five pulsating rounds, the British Rally Championship will be decided on the final event of the season.

This will be the Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally in southern Scotland this Saturday, September 14.

Two drivers have a mathematical chance of clinching Britain’s premier rallying title, and all that stands between the two protagonists are nine stages, equating to 75 gravel miles through the picturesque Galloway forests.

In one corner is defending champion Matt Edwards, from Rhos on Sea.

In the other is young-charger Tom Cave.

Edwards has had a near perfect start to his title defence, with only a retirement on the Pirelli Rally the only blot on his copy book.

The M-Sport star has raised his game again in 2019 and heads to Scotland with Cambrian, Ypres and Ulster Rally wins and an impressive 93-point haul.

The Pirelli-backed Ford Fiesta R5 driver has already helped co-driver Patrick Walsh to his title, and now the Welshman enters his third showdown in a row.

Edwards will need to take a cautious approach, as a seventh or better will seal a second straight BRC title, a feat last achieved by Keith Cronin in 2010.

But that's easier said than done in the challenging forestry tracks.

Sparring partner Cave has had a roller-coaster of a season in the BRC top-flight.

A last stage triple puncture retirement on the Cambrian Rally failed to ignite the Welshman’s year.

However, a fired-up Cave came out fighting in his Michelin-shod Hyundai i20 R5 with back-to-back BRC wins on the West Cork and Pirelli rallies and a second in Ypres – putting him equal on points with Edwards heading to the Ulster Rally.

Sadly for Cave and navigator Dale Bowen, a rare error saw them crash out of the event in the closing stages – leaving them with the Scottish BRC round to drive for the rally win.

With both drivers still to play their points paying joker, 30 points are up for grabs, with one driver to become the 2019 British champion.

Looking ahead to what will be a thrilling weekend, Matt Edwards said: “The feeling is really good coming into the final round and the whole team have really helped me get to this stage.

"We have done the ‘easy’ part, now we have to work hard to secure the championship.

“I will be driving in the middle of the road, I won’t be taking any risks or big cuts and the car will be filled with lots of spares to get me to the finish – I can’t take any risks.

“I don’t feel any more pressure than I did last year.

"It will be exciting for the everyone watching as I guarantee Tom and I will have different game plans.

"The stages are excellent, and it will be a great battle providing an exciting end to the championship for all involved.”