With the Wales Rally GB is not until October, rally fans will get their first taste of what is ahead in 2019 this weekend.

The 2019 FIA World Rally Championship will be officially launched later this week at Autosport International (10-13 January).

New liveries and driver line-ups will all be unveiled at Birmingham’s NEC on what has been dubbed ‘Super Saturday’, giving British rally fans and show visitors a unique insight into what promises to be another epic sporting adventure.

With the latest generation of world rally cars producing thrilling and ultra-competitive entertainment, the 2019 WRC has been expanded to 14 rounds with the addition of an extra event in Chile.

Like last year, the action kicks off later this month with the famous Monte Carlo Rally (January 24-27), with Britain’s round confirmed autumn (October 3-6) as what promises to be another fiercely-fought title race nears its climax.

All four major factory-backed teams - Citroën, Ford, Hyundai and Toyota - are back and new driver line-ups stoke further intrigue.

Six-time World Champion Sébastien Ogier has switched back to spearhead Citroën’s squad in 2019, so Elfyn Evans will step up to lead the M-Sport Ford attack.

Evans famously took his first WRC victory on home soil in Wales at the end of 2017 but last season failed to add to that breakthrough victory.

The Welshman has a new co-driver – Scott Martin – and now, with the added responsibility, is determined to bounce back aboard the Fiesta RS WRC which took Ogier to both the 2017 and 2018 titles.

Evans will be joined by the entire 2019 field of WRC drivers and co-drivers on 'Super Saturday' at the Autosport International to officially unveil all of the new-look 2019 rally cars on the WRC display stand.

Visitors will then be treated to a series of in-depth interviews as well as autograph/selfie sessions throughout the day.

Autosport International tickets are available in advance via the www.autosportinternational.com website or on the door at the NEC.

Adult admission is priced at £34 when purchasing online or £39 on the day.

Tickets for this year’s Wales Rally GB will go on sale in the spring when the 2019 competitive route is announced.