The Team MRF juggernaut is all set to continue its unchallenged progress as the two-day WIAA Rallye de Goa, the fifth round of the MAI Indian National Rally Championship, commences in Panaji, Goa, on Saturday.

The event, which has attracted 13 entries, will be run over 447.4 kms, of which 108.44 kms comprise Special Stages made up mostly of tarmac and small dirt sections.

Heading the Team MRF challenge will be reigning National champion V R Naren Kumar and co-driver D Ramkumar from Coimbatore. Naren has already chalked up eight wins in a row, including all the four rounds of the 2003 series, and looks certain to continue with his winning ways. A top-three finish in Rallye de Goa should see him clinch the National title with two more rounds still to be completed as he enjoys a 30-point lead.

Naren will have to contend with strong challenge from his team-mates, notably Arjun Balu (co-driver Kumar Ramaswamy), Vikram Mathias (co-driver Sujith Kumar) and Karandip Singh (co-driver Jaidas Menon).

The gifted Balu has had a run of bad luck right through the season and his results thus far are not indicative of his ability. Similarly, Mathias has had to deal with a problematic car, but his strong finish in the previous round at Chandigarh reflected his undoubted talent.

The unluckiest of the lot has been Chandigarh-based Karandip Singh who twice had to pack off when in winning positions. He would be hoping that luck would hold and finish at the top in this event.

Completing the Team MRF line-up are veterans Narayanaswamy Leelakrishnan, a seven-time National champion, and co-driver Farooq Ahmed. The duo has not had the best of seasons, but can never be written off.

The Team MRF would be competing in the 1600cc class and all would be driving the Honda City V-Tec cars, along with Gulf Oil-sponsored Jiby Malaikkal and co-driver Nikhil Pai, who are in their debut season in this category.

Maliakkal is in the process of coming to grips with the strong competition and also the powerful Honda City. In his own words, he is on a steep learning curve that should see him perform better next season. Recently, Maliakkal spent 10 days in Malaysia, training under Karamjit Singh, the 2002 World champion in production car category.

"I unlearnt a lot and am hopeful of a better performance here," said Maliakkal.

Meanwhile, the 1400cc category should witness some close competition. Team Movva, represented by Rahul Kantharaj and Vivek Bhatt, who failed in two of the four rounds, will be hoping for a strong finish here. Their main rivals, Lohit V Urs and co-driver Bopanna MK are comfortably placed in the championship standings, leading by 13 points.

The Rally Star Cup category is likely to throw up some tight competition involving Aroor Ajun Rao/Moosa Sherif (41 points) and Ranjit Ballal/Nataraj Shanmuga (35 points).