Five stones lighter than he was back in January, Saltash rally driver Alan Cookson is hoping to make good use of the extra power-to-weight ratio when he and London co-driver Julian Wilkinson return to the 2009 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship with tomorrow's Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally.

Regular gym sessions four or five times a week, coupled with training for the Plymouth Half-Marathon, has seen Cookson lose around 70-lb so far and, after a couple of months out of action, he'll be back behind the wheel of his venerable Subaru WRC, nicknamed 'Daisy'.

He will be hoping for better luck, having retired from the Manx Telecom Rally last time out and then missing the Severn Valley National Rally back in May due to work commitments.

But he is raring to go again in the Robert Wiseman Dairies, Kick Energy, GillettsSpar.com, Kumho Tyres, Riverside Property Services and Olverelectrical.com-supported Subaru Impreza WRC.

Alan, who holds eighth position overall and second in Class Nine, admitted: 'We're really looking forward to getting back out in the woods after the disappointment of the Manx retirement, and are hoping our early season luck returns as we get to the Welsh forests for the first time this year after missing the Severn Valley last month due to work commitments.

However, we intend to do the Tempest Rally later in the year.

'We're certainly hoping for better luck in Wales than we had last year on this event, when the engine blew up after only getting to do three stages of the event.

'I've been told by the people who have done the pacenotes that the stages, as used on the Wales Rally GB in November, are in awesome condition – some of the best they have driven over for some time.

'We are really hoping for a good, clean run this year, and are once again targeting a top ten finish to net some valuable points for the Championship.

'I'm hoping my continued weight-loss will also help us out on the rally and I'm sure it's got to make a difference having 70-lb less weight in the car... although it does mean my right foot is not as heavy so I need to concentrate on making sure I'm pushing the accelerator hard to the floor!' As an added incentive, series organisers ANCRO have put together a tv package for this event, which will mean coverage for the first time since the opening round of Rallye Sunseeker – and Cookson is hoping to provide plenty of action.

The Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally gets under way at 10.00 am from Swansea, whereafter crews tackle the classic tests of South Wales before returning to the finish back at Swansea around 4.25 pm.

For further details, including spectator information, go to http://www.swanseabayrally.com">www.swanseabayrally.com