NEWRY —  Drivers of racing sport compact cars are arriving at Sunday River Ski Resort this week for the New England Forest Rally.

Rally racing features real cars racing against the clock on closed-off sections of real roads that are usually unpaved and unforgiving, according to the Rally America website.

Headquartered at Sunday River’s South Ridge, the Rally will be held on Thursday through Saturday, July 25 through 27. Racing starts at 11:01 a.m. Friday and ends by 7 p.m., when the first car is expected back, then continues on Saturday from 8:31 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The New England Forest Rally is the fifth round of the 2013 RallyAmerica U.S. National Championship. It features race-prepared, sport compact cars piloted by drivers and co-driver/navigators racing against the clock over closed public and woods roads, Craig Zurhorst, local liaison, stated Monday in a news release.

This is considered to be the second-largest motorsports event in Maine after the Oxford 250, and one of the larger motorsports events in New Hampshire, he said. Spectator counts have been estimated as high as 25,000 in past years.

The entry list currently stands at 58. Entries include Ken Block/Alex Gelsomino, Antoine L’Estage/Nathalie Richard, and David Higgins/Craig Drew, Zurhorst said.

Along with the National Championship event are two concurrent regional rallies: Friday’s Maine Rally and Saturday’s New Hampshire Rally.

There will be a shakedown stage Thursday at a time to be determined, Zurhorst said.

To view the online spectators’ guide, see page 6 on www.newenglandforestrally.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/NEFR_2013_Guide_Web.pdf. This page is subject to change.

There is no charge for spectators. There is a cost for the public Friday barbecue at Sunday River and there is a fare for spectator shuttle bus service or for VIP bus service to catered viewing areas, Zurhorst said.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com