FERODO Ford Puma champion Ryan Champion, from Castleton, was given the chance to test a full works Ford Focus WRC last week as a reward for winning the one-make series this season.

The car Champion drove was a latest specification car in which Spaniard Carlos Sainz had finished third overall in the previous weekend's Network Q Rally of Great Britain.

The day-long test took place in the Lake District forests close to the Ford World Rally Team preparation company M Sport's Cockermouth headquarters.

The 27-year-old said: "The car felt fantastic. It had so much torque and once you got used to the paddle gear shift, it was actually quite easy to drive.

"It was a great experience and I would love the opportunity to compete in something similar in the future, but now I have to concentrate on learning the Super 1600 Puma which I am going to drive next year and leave the dream of driving a World Rally Car for another day."

The Yorkshireman will contest the 2003 British Rally Championship in a works-supported Ford Puma S1600 and is looking forward to the challenge.

Plans are at an advanced stage, with the team in the process of finalising details in readiness for a concerted challenge.

Champion, along with Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress, will begin testing the new Puma in the new year in preparation for the first round of the British Rally Championship in Wales during March.

l Following last year's foot-and-mouth enforced inaugural event, Northallerton Auto Club are again planning to run the popular Christmas Stages Rally at Croft circuit, near Darlington, over the festive period.

The single-venue event is scheduled for Sunday, December 29 and will challenge crews to a variety of stages around the location, totalling about 40 miles.

In order to ensure the event is completed on time, NAC has reduced the number of entries available by 20 down to just 70.

Following their initial association with the club on the Summer Stages which ran on the army ranges around Catterick Garrison over the August bank holiday, Specsavers opticians have kindly agreed to sponsor the event.

The Christmas Stages attracted a capacity entry last year and organisers are expecting another bumper turn out for the event, which comprises rounds of two regional championships.

However, such are the financial restraints on motor clubs these days, organisers are asking competitors to send their entries, costing £140, before the closing date of December 16. If they receive less than 50, the event will be cancelled.

Regulations are available from Mark Constantine on 07702 954991, with information being regularly updated nearer to the event at www.northallerton-ac.co.uk.

* Two-wheel fans will be catered for the day before, December 28, with the fourth round of the British Supermoto Championship at Croft.

The motorcycling equivalent of rallycross sees plenty of action on the specially modified and highly-tuned bikes, with a host of star names from the world of motorsport expected in the entry list.

Supermoto has become the fastest-growing form of motorcycle sport with the introduction of an FIM World Supermoto Championship this year. The ACU and Britain's circuit owners have formed a partnership to guarantee its future nationally in the UK with a fully-promoted British Winter Championship over eight rounds.

Supermoto courses of approximately 60pc tarmac and 40pc non-tarmac have been specially designed at eight permanent race circuit venues for the first year of the championship, and this will be increased to ten venues in the winter of 2003/2004.

The Supermotard 750cc open class is complemented by the 450cc class and the 125cc machines, as well as juniors and rookies, ensuring full grids in all classes and exciting racing