Australian captain Michael Clarke will compete in the International Rally of Queensland this month.

Clarke will be behind the wheel for two stages of the rally in a BP Ultimate team car and said he was looking forward to his first ever race.

"It's pretty well known that I have a passion for driving, but a part of me has always wondered what it would be like to go up against the best in the business," insisted Clarke, who is currently playing for the Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League.

"There's no doubt that rally driving is one of the most exhilarating sports around and, as someone who puts my heart into everything I do, this is a great opportunity to mix it with some of the world's best drivers."

He will drive alongside veteran professional Mark Stacey, who has competed at international level for 20 years.

The rally, in its 44th year and the longest-running round in the Australian Rally Championship, has attracted more than 100 cars from Australia, Britain, Malaysia and Japan.

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