REIGNING champions Connor McCloskey and Francis Regan will not be returning to defend their Wyedean Rally crown this Saturday, February 15.

It means the coveted number one seeding goes to Scots Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton in their Ford Focus WRC.

They were leading the event last year before retirement and would dearly love to go one better this time. They will be pushed all the way by multiple Scottish Rally champions David Bogie & Kevin Rae in another Focus.