AARON McClure will be taking a cautious approach when he heads to the forests of Exmoor for this Saturday's Somerset Stages Rally.

It was a crash on the same event last year which saw the Flookburgh driver's season brought to a premature end, although he goes into it full of confidence after a fifth-place finish at the recent Malcolm Wilson Rally in Cumbria's forests.

That included setting a string of top-three stage times at his home rally, yet McClure intends to be more careful as he aims to move into the top three in the Ravenol BTRDA Rally Series Production Cup.

“The pace in the Production Cup is very impressive and it’s hard enough getting out front after being in the car all year, let alone on just your second event back behind the wheel,” said McClure.

“We really need to take one step at a time and not take any risks this weekend as the event has a lot of unknowns which can really unsettle the rhythm, especially with so many shorter stages. There is certainly less room for error down there.

“We have to get to the end, that’s it really. Yes, it would be nice to come away with a podium but we need to build the points up before attacking at the end of the season when I have more seat time under my belt.

“The trouble is, it sounds good in principle, but when the flag drops sometimes it’s hard to remember that.”

The 22-year-old Yokohama-backed Mitsubishi driver will again be joined by Welsh co-driver Michael Gilbey for the second rally of the year, which is followed by the Plains Rally on May 13.