'Best Ever' Christmas stages entry at Croft

Reading like a 'who's who' of British Rallying, perm any one of the top ten to win next weekend's Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally which takes place at Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire on Sunday 28th December 2008.

With Northallerton Automobile Club once again assembling a capacity ninety-car entry for the annual festive feast around the North's premier motorsports facility just south of Darlington, the emphasis is on quality as much as quantity as no less than six previous winners are set to do battle.

Defending champions John Stone and Lee Carter will head over from Blackburn to contest the 45 stage mile event in their recently rebuilt MG Metro 6R4 after a titanic battle last year but if anything, they face even stiffer competition this year.

Former National Champion Paul Bird from Penrith is coming out of retirement specially to try to win the title for a third year since the event has been held at Croft and he will be at the wheel of his Subaru WRC alongside Northallerton's Ian Windress as he seeks to add to his 2002 and 2003 titles.

Scotch Corner driver Tony Bardy sampled the winner's champagne in 2005 and he's determined to do so once again with Reg Smith from Richmond on the maps in their venerable Nissan Sunny Gti-R.

One driver who is making his debut at Croft is three-times winner, Charlie Payne from Ripon, who won in 1992, 1994 and 1999 when the event was held on the military ranges around Catterick. Driving the unique Mitsubishi Lancer WRC, Payne is teaming up with regular co driver Craig Thorley's grandson, Tom Hughes from York, who is just sixteen years old.

Leeming Bar all-rounder, Kevin Procter, won the event ten years ago on the ranges in a Ford Sierra Cosworth but despite a number of attempts, the part time Rallycross driver is desperate to win at his beloved Croft and once more has seconded fellow top rallycrosser Dave Bellerby from Northallerton in the co driver's seat of their Subaru WRC.

Whilst not expected to be battling for overall honours, York rallying legend Yuk Hodgson took the win back in 1985 and this year will be out in his Ford Escort Mk1 along with daughter Jemma.

Hoping to add to their double victory on the Jack Frost Stages at Croft in both 2007 and 2008 will be Pickhill crew Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor-West whereby a Christmas Stages victory would look good on their CV, so too it would on top British Championship driver Ryan Champion's whereby the Castleton driver is gunning for victory in the ex Pierro Liatti World Championship Subaru Impreza 555.

Riponian Rally winner Tim Pearcey from Thirsk is another top driver in his Mitsubishi Lancer whereas Keith Taylor (Subaru) and Mark Jasper (MG Metro 6R4) round out the top ten meaning any one of these drivers really does stand a reasonable chance of victory!

"It's got to be the best ever entry for the Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally!" enthused Clerk of the Course Ian Jackson. "To have the likes of top British Championship runners on gravel squaring off with some of the top tarmac drivers in the country is a mouth-watering prospect and one that I think everyone is really looking forward to."

But it's not just about the top ten as the quality continues right down the order and through the classes. In the two-wheel drive class, Stockton driver Keith Davison is favourite in his Darrian T90 but can expect stiff opposition from the similar car of Ashley Field as well as Scotsman Davy Hughes (Ford Escort) and the BMW Mini of John Cressey. Richmond's Mark Constantine starts as favourite in the 1400cc class in his Corsa and the 1600cc class should be an epic battle with the likes of Malcolm Davey (Ford Escort) and Barry Lindsey (Peugeot) in the mix.

Other local drivers expected to do well on the event include West Rounton's Nigel Keen (Ford Escort), Eppleby driver Alistair Hutchinson in his LPG-powered Renault Clio and John Gaskin from Chop Gate in his Subaru.

Following Procter in changing disciplines for the day are a number of other top British Rallycross drivers who are taking to the stages. Gosforth driver David Binks joins fellow Tynesiders Michael Boak and Brian Jukes whereas Bedale teenager Joe Cunningham also is set to sample his first rally.

An interesting entry has come in the shape of runner up in the DDMC Northern Sports and Saloon Car Championship, David Cox, who swaps his race suit for rally overalls as he drives his Rover 25 in aid of Breast Cancer Care so please give generously.

Utilising all of the tarmac roads around the popular North East venue, a massive crowd is one again expected as the first of the ninety cars gets underway at 09.15 with the first of eight stages which will run into darkness.

Admission costs £8.00 per adult with accompanied children under 15 admitted free and gates open at 8.00am. Entry lists costing 50p are available from the Scout Tent with all proceeds going directly to Northallerton Scouts.