AFTER the rigours of the 2003 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, Ingleton driver Tony Thompson and co-driver Ian Windress have secured third place after the gruelling eight round series which has supported the Kumho National Rally Championship.

In their MSR-prepared Conchango-backed and Tidybike-sponsored Lancer Evo 6, the pair suffered just one none-finish during the season to set up a concerted title bid but despite their consistency, they couldn't quite claim a victory, instead having to settle for a trio of rostrum positions which netted them third place in the Production Cup and Group N classes also for good measure.

Returning to rallying after a number of years, Thompson only retired on the opening Rallye Sunseeker' held in Bournemouth back in February but along with the experienced Windress, they steadily racked up the points which culminated with their best performance of the season on the recent Bulldog rally based in Wales.

On that event, the crew won the prestigious 'Competitors of the Day' award for stopping to help a fellow competitor extinguish a fire in their car, losing a couple of minutes in the process but the result also helped them to eighth position in the overall Kumho standings, two places behind two of the region's other competitors in the championship, Steve Petch from Scorton and another Northallerton co-driver, John Richardson.

The former national champions suffered a couple of non-finishes in their ex works Hyundai Accent WRC and missed out on a top five placing by just one point but at least had the consolation of claiming runner up spot in the National Class A8 category.

Petch's son, Stephen Junior, along with Tow Law co-driver Michael Wilkinson claimed third position in National Class A5 after a concerted end of season run in their SGP Ford Ka. Petch finished fifth in the National Junior Driver class and second in the Genesis Design Under 21 class with Wilkinson adding the runners-up trophy in the National Junior Co-driver class to his collection.

* Rallying returns to the region this Sunday when the WA Developments Pendragon Stages Rally takes place on the army ranges around Brough and Appleby.

Warcop Camp is the venue for the majority of stage mileage as a combination of Kirby Lonsdale, Eden Valley and Northallerton clubs have resurrected the event after a twelve year absence and with around 50 competitors set to take part, the action is sure to be intense.

However, there are no spectators allowed on the actual ranges, a point which the army states it will rigidly enforce and the only official viewing stage is a short run through Breaks Hall near Great Ormside.

The first of the cars gets away at 8.30am from the Appleby start, returning after the final stage in darkness to the finish at The Grand Prix Club in Brough at around 5pm.

Marshals are still sought and details can be obtained from Mike Dunning (Chief Marshal) on 01539 624418 or by logging onto www.klmc.org.uk

l 2003 Ford Rallye Sport Ka Championship runner-up Jonny Brown ventured to North Wales for the final round of the BTRDA Rally Championship but came away empty handed from the Llandudno based Cambrian Rally.

Brown, from Great Broughton had contested the whole of the 2003 series and all the rallies he has competed on so far in his career with Harmby's James Lester alongside but was coerced into letting Manxman Rob Fagg sit alongside for the 55 stage mile event. Not only did Brown have a new co-driver to contend with, it was also his first time using a number system of pace notes rather than his previous descriptive system.

Stages one and two saw the crews tackle just under nine miles on each and this allowed the pairing plenty of time on stage to come to terms with each other, setting two top ten 1400 times. This continued into stage 3 and the pair looked on for a good result in their Ford Ka but it came to nothing when they slid offon SS4. On a tight corner, the car under-steered and left the road landing in a ditch and their rally was at an end. .

l More Motorsport: page 30.