Andrea Navarra (above on the Rally Russia) requires nothing less than a top result in Switzerland next week to vault him back into the IRC title fight.

The penultimate round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) gets underway in Switzerland next week with Abarth factory pilot Andrea Navarra requiring nothing less than a top result to vault him back into the title fight. The event takes place on his less favoured surface, asphalt. After the Rally du Valais just one round of the IRC remains to be contested, in China (Nov 9-11).

The weather on this Swiss mountain classic, the 48th edition, is expected to be cold, with temperatures of below zero degrees centigrade adding to the magical atmosphere. The all-asphalt route - which gets underway in the afternoon of Thursday 25th October - takes in some of Switzerland's most famous ski resorts, and the roads will be made treacherous by low temperatures that can cover the surfaces with black ice.

Navarra - who is currently second in the drivers' title standings - told the IRC website: "This will make it a very challenging event, with conditions a little bit similar to the ones you traditionally see on the Monte Carlo Rally. I think that these mountain roads are quite specialised, so I would expect the local drivers to go well. However, we still have some very good opportunities for ourselves and it's important that we try to get a good result."

The Rallye du Valais will be crucial for this year's IRC titles, with Peugeot driver Enrique Garcia Ojeda currently leading the drivers' standings by seven points and Peugeot heading up the manufacturers' rankings. But the titles are far from decided, with Navarra and Peugeot driver Nicolas Vouilloz also in contention for the drivers' title. Abarth still has a realistic chance of taking the manufacturers' prize as well. "At the moment Ojeda and Peugeot have an advantage, but generally speaking it's still very open," said Navarra. "Valais will be a very important rally for all of us, so I think we'll all be pushing as hard as we can."

As well as the favourites who are battling it out for the title, there will also be a healthy number of local heroes. Philippe Roux, one of the most internationally experienced rally drivers in Switzerland, will take the wheel of an Abarth Grande Punto for his home event - joining the regular band of Abarth drivers headed by title contender Andrea Navarra. Another Swiss driver who could figure amongst the frontrunners will be Christian Jaquillard, driving a Peugeot 207 S2000.