THE saloon stock cars World Championship will be the headline event at the Speedweekend' at Smeatharpe Stadium next Saturday and Sunday (August 18 and 19).

Also taking place will be the BSCDA Benevolent Fund Trophy race for BriSCA formula two stock cars, and Metro Madness for the bangers.

The pretigious saloon World Championship has only been raced for at Smeatharpe on two previous occasions in the circuit's history - in 1999 and 2002.

On both of those occasions, Philip Morgan of Kingsbridge emerged as World Champion. Indeed, Morgan remains the only West Country-based driver ever to have won the World Championship.

This time around, European Champion Shane Brown, of Woolavington, carries the bulk of the South-West hopes. Brown will grid on the inside of the second row of the 34-car grid.

The two drivers ahead of Brown, have accounted for the last four World titles - Shaun Webster of Sheffield and defending champion David Aldous of Diss.

Besides Brown, the Nasty Plumber' Ian Govier of Taunton and Glenn Chalkley of Torquay are the only other South-West drivers assured of being on the grid.

As many as 50 drivers will head to Smeatharpe from all parts of England, and from Scotland, Northern Ireland and mainland Europe for the event.

A magnificent entry of Formula Two Stock Cars will contest both days of racing.

Saturday evening's highlight will be the staging of the BSCDA Benevolent Fund Trophy race.

The fund was set up to provide financial assistance to drivers who are prevented from working because of injury sustained whilst racing.

On Sunday, the annual bangers Metro Madness takes place, featuring plenty of hard-hitting crashing from the mighty atom cars.

A good entry of the small cars is expected to do battle during the course of the afternoon.

l THE action starts at 5.30pm on Saturday and at 1pm on Sunday at the Smeatharpe Stadium, between Taunton and Honiton.