A HOST of local crews were in action in the various classes on the Trackrod Rally last weekend.

Leading the way with a superb third place overall was Scorton driver Steve Petch and his co-driver John Richardson from Northallerton, who finished the two-day international rally after a good run in their Hyundai Accent Evo2.

In excellent conditions, the pace at the front was hot and the former national champions were looking good for second position overall behind new champion Jonny Milner in his Toyota until a broken rear disc dropped them back to third on Saturday.

Sunday saw the SGP Motorsport crew charge back up to second, but a spin on SS12 in Staintondale meant they lost time and had to settle for third.

Petch and Richardson's next outing will be the Bulldog Rally in Wales on October 19, which constitutes the final round of the ANCRO national championship. The pair are still in with a mathematical chance of the championship, but need other crews to retire to win the title.

Heighington's Guy Wilks was challenging for Super 1600 honours in his Ford Rallye Junior Team Puma and recorded an impressive sixth place overall on his way to second in class.

The result moves him and co-driver Roger Herron to fifth overall in the Pirelli BRC and third in the Super 1600, while also finishing runner-up in the junior class.

Tony Thompson from Barnard Castle and co-driver Richard Myers continued their recent good form with a fine drive to fourth in class and 12th overall in their Mitsubishi.

But recently-crowned Scottish Champion Barry Johnson from Shildon retired his Subaru on SS2 with a broken cam belt, while Ripon's Charlie Payne went out on stage seven with no oil pressure.

Thimbleby driver David Brown and Richmond co-driver Tony Walker recorded a second place finish in the National event in their Steel River Ford Puma 4x4, with Harrogate's Tim Pearcey and Thirsk co-driver Mick Johnson claiming fifth overall and a class win in their Ford Escort.

Sophie Robinson and Castleton's Joyce Champion ended up third in class and 18th overall in their VW Polo, six places ahead of Paul Hudson from Darlington, co-driving as usual for Costa Rican Gigi Bettencourt Gomez.

Pickhill driver Matt Yeadon and co-driver Richard Shores from Boltby retired their Nu Era Ford Cosworth on SS3, while the Durham crews of Stephen Petch junior and Mike Wilkinson and Tristan Pye and Chris Thirling both retired their Ford Kas on the second test.

Sunday's clubman's event saw Redcar driver Dave Craven and co-driver Ian Jackson from Eaglescliffe post a second place finish in their NSS Ford Sapphire, with Northallerton's Charlie Taylor and co-driver Steve Beilby claiming fifth overall and a class win in their Ford Escort.

But Masham butcher Richard Welford and father Mick's run of bad luck continued when they blew the engine on their Escort Cosworth on the opening stage.

* Middlesbrough 125cc racer Paul Veazey showed his true potential with a superb third place finish in front of 27,000 fans at a sun-kissed Donington Park last weekend.

After qualifying in seventh position, the 16-year-old gradually clawed his way through the field aboard the Banks Racing Honda and was lying in a safe fourth position when race leader Midge Smart crashed out, handing the youngster his first ever national championship rostrum.

In emotional scenes on the rostrum, Veazey, who ended up 12th in the standings, dedicated the performance to his parents who have been instrumental in his career to date.

Yarm's Russ Hodgson got the weekend off to a great start by qualifying third on the grid. But any hopes he had of a good result in the 125cc event disappeared when another rider collided with him on the second lap and he crashed the Cameron's Castle Eden Honda out of contention. Hodgson still managed to hold on to seventh in the championship after a season of mixed fortunes.

It was also a traumatic weekend for Darlington superbike racer Mark Burr, who endured mechanical problems with the 750cc Hawk Kawasaki in qualifying to miss out on the all-important Superpole by just two places.

Burr got a poor start in the first race and, just as he started pulling through the field, a flat battery sidelined him on lap six.

Race two again brought a bad start, but he fought hard through the pack to reach 14th at the flag and add another two points to his tally for a creditable 16th in the BSB championship.

Guisborough's Dennis Hobbs rounded off a difficult season with a top ten placing in the Superstock event when he took the 1000cc Hobbs Suzuki to an impressive ninth in a race shortened by three laps due to oil on the track.

Leyburn rider James Brackenbury failed in his bid to score a point in the Junior Superstock series when he retired his CJ Racing Yamaha on lap eight