Darlington and District Motor Club will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the British Trial & Rally Drivers Association when they stage their winter rallycross meeting at Croft Circuit on Sunday.

The event, which has been titled the BTRDA 75th Anniversary Rallycross Trophy, is designed to reflect the early days of rallycross and is intended as a stepping stone to a standalone BTRDA Rallycross Championship event, which is due to return to Croft in 2014.

DDMC chairman and event secretary, Terry Wright, said: “I always felt there was a demand for a true clubman’s event aimed specifically at the two-wheel drive competitor. The entry filling up so quickly has proved this. All we have to do now is provide a slick event to complement the competitors’ faith.”

Sunday’s meeting will see drivers compete in two qualification heats, followed by a final. The competitors will not be split into classes, but will instead race together in a maximum eight-car grid through qualifying. The finals will then feature ten-car grids.

More than 60 cars have already entered the event, with local drivers well represented. Des Wheatley returns to rallycross after a nine-year absence in a Rover Metro, with other confirmed North-East drivers including Mike Boak (Audi TT), Mark Watson (Ford Fiesta), Martin Peters (Saxo) and Paul Swift (Ford Escort Mk2).

The North-East contingent will have to be at their best to beat Kent’s Stuart Emery though, with the Peugeot 206 GTi driver expected to start as one of the favourites. Vince Bristow (Margate), Gary Dixon (Lincoln), Bob Hardie (Aylesbury) and Paul Davis (Binfield) are other well-known names lining up on the grid.

Normally a start line marshal at rallycross events, Andrew Bedford will fulfil a lifetime ambition when he competes in a VW Lupo, while former BTRDA champion Gary Cook will hope to roll back the years in his MG ZR.

This weekend’s event gives the BTRDA an opportunity to launch their 2014 Clubman’s Rallycross Championship, which will feature a number of rounds from February to November.

Practice for Sunday’s meeting starts at 9.30am, with the finals due to take place between 1.45-3.30pm. Adult tickets are priced £8 for online booking or £10 on the gate, with accompanied children aged 15 or under free.