HORNBY rally driver Anth Eaton's second place in the Mintex National Championship this season was even more creditable given it was his first proper attempt at the title.

Driving the Group A Ford Escort Cosworth, Eaton and his co-driver and near-neighbour Peter Hartland from Great Smeaton, surprised many of the seasoned regulars with their pace and reliability in the Autotest of Northallerton-backed car. They failed to finish in only one of the seven events.

The season started on home ground in the Yorkshire forests back in February when the crew took sixth overall on the Kall Kwik Rally, before posting a remarkable third on the Vauxhall Rally of Wales a month later.

Eaton's only non-finish of the series came when he put the car in a ditch in the notorious Kielder Forest while contesting the Pirelli International Rally in May, but the garage owner bounced back with a career-best second place in the fast forests of the Scottish Rally in midsummer.

All the time, Eaton was chasing main rival and eventual champion Steve Petch from Scorton, who was amassing a good lead in the championship in his World Rally Car version of the Ford Escort Cosworth.

It was back to Wales for round five and the super-fast all-tarmac event on the Epynt ranges which comprised the Harry Flatters Rally. Despite his inexperience on this surface, Eaton took eighth overall to keep the pressure on Petch and his Northallerton co-driver John Richardson.

Eaton's bid for the title ended when he was beaten into 14th place on the Tour of Flanders Rally in Belgium back in September, when a host of World Championship drivers turned up for the event, but he still managed to consolidate his second place.

The season ended as it began with another visit to the Yorkshire stages in the form of the Trackrod Rally in late September, where Eaton rounded off the year in style with another sixth place to seal the runner-up spot in the championship.

Eaton now plans to upgrade the car to WRC specification over the winter and is actively working on securing a budget for his concerted championship bid in 2001. However, due to family commitments, Hartland is unable to commit to another full season.

Eaton is looking for an experienced co-driver to assist him and anyone interested can contact him on 01609 777151.

l Meanwhile, with just over a month to go to the Food Weighouse Christmas Stages Rally, entries have been rolling in for the Northallerton AC-organised event to be held around Catterick Garrison on Saturday, December 30.

Early entries include three-times winner and defending champion Charlie Payne from Ripon in a Mitsubishi Lancer, as well as other former winners Anth Eaton (Hornby) and Charlie Taylor (Northallerton) in their respective Ford Escorts.

Event sponsor Chris Lewis from Bedale has entered his Mitsubishi and former champion Dave Craven will compete in a Toyota Corolla. Ducati Superbike team boss Paul Bird from Penrith has hired the new Steve Petch Subaru Impreza Coupe especially for the rally.

BTRDA Champion Mark Constantine from Richmond is another early entry in his Vauxhall Nova, along with drivers from as far afield as Scotland and Kent.

Regulations are still available from Ian Jackson on 01642 357782 or 0797 7565559.