LANCASTER’S Arron Newby and co driver John Cope claimed victory at the Darlington and District Motor Club’s annual Jack Frost Rally extravaganza. The duo took their Subaru to first place, edging out previous champions’ Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor West from Pickhill by just 17 seconds.

Crakehall plumber Andrew Auld, co driven by son Dan in their Bedale Motor-Factors-backed Peugeot 205, set the fastest time on SS3 with the leaders struggling to come to terms with the frosty conditions.

Northallerton’s Graeme Bell and Russ Radford had been tipped to land the prize, but had been forced to quit the terrain because of the conditions. This allowed Wise to open up a 12 second lead over Barry Lindsay and co-driver John Richardson at the mid-point turnaround.

Wise ran into some trouble in slushy conditions on SS7, and dropped over minute when he found himself with no forward motion due to a broken gearstick. He was forced to eventually select fourth gear to complete the stage, which allowed Newby to take advantage.

Wise failed to recover from this setback, and had to settle for runner-up spot for the second year running. Kepwick’s Peter Stephenson and Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress laid claim to the final podium spot in their MGZR. Fourth went the way of James Gibb and Billy Gower (Subaru), followed up by Lindsay and Richardson on the notes. Sixth spot went the way of Christmas Stages runners-up David White and Edward Pikul in their Subaru.

Durham’s David Coatsworth and Tristan Atkinson won Class 1 in 32nd overall with a close battle in Class 2 which saw Askew’s Joe Cunningham and co-driver Marc Fowler emerge victorious. Durham’s Drew and Peter Gibson finished in 14th overall, with Staindrop driver Mark Thompson and co-driver Tom Bruce arriving in 16th overall and second in class in their 2000cc Peugeot 206.

Dave Hornbrook and co-driver Ann Forster, Guisborough, finished 17th overall in their Mitsubishi while Hartburn co-driver Ian Jackson steered George Scott to 22nd overall in a similar car.

Northallerton’s Larry carter and Linda Ashman finished the race in 28th overall and sixth in class in their Yorkshire Van Lease-backed Peugeot 206, marginally ahead of Andrew and Daniel Auld whilst Thirkleby’s Rob Herrington came in 30th overall.

Pickhill duo Geoff Simpson and Bruce Lindsay finished 33rd overall in their Mitsubishi, a place ahead of Great Ayton’s Ian Horn and Brotton co-driver Bob Brown in their Vauxhall Nova. Thirsk’s Mike Herrington and Hartlepool co-driver Rachel Heel came in 35th overall and fourth in class in their Ford Escort Mk2.

Masham’s Shaun Wilson and co-driver Chris Longster finished 36th overall in their Subaru, two places ahead of Northallerton’s Andy Smith, whose daughter Georgina was his co-driver. The Redmire Vauxhall Nova duo of Rachel and Andrew Foster came in 41st overall and second in class, before Middlesbrough’s Craig Hesse and co-driver Paul Rowland finished 43rd overall in their Subaru.

Darlington racing driver David Cox, and co-driver Paul Moss, finished 47th overall in their Rover 25, pushing out the Richmond father-and-son duo of Luke and Terry Searle by just two seconds. Northallerton brothers Andrew and Richard Chandler suffered a misfire on their 1300cc Ford Escort late in the race, which pushed them back to 49th overall and fourth in class, a place ahead of Sinderby’s Bill and Kari Bates.

Staindrop driver Colin Hutchinson, with co-driver Andrew Hutchinson, finished 61st overall and sixth in class whilst Neil Marshall and Guisborough co-driver David Scrimgour finished three places behind them after they experienced problems with their Peugeot 205.

Brompton’s Darren Grimston saw the head gasket blow on his newly-acquired Subaru Impreza at the half-way stage, while stage seven struck down Bishop Auckland Subaru driver John Pye, as well as Topcliffe’s Nick Kitching in his Ford Escort, and Malcolm Taylor in his Peugeot 205. Witton Gilbert’s Edward Todd and co-driver Andy Brown finished last of the 72, but given the harsh conditions, it was a surprise that only 18 crews failed to see the finish line.