BRITISH rallying legend Malcolm Wilson and the iconic ex Hannu Mikkola-Group B Audi Quattro will share centre stage with a capacity entry when the Swift Signs Christmas Stages Rally takes place at Croft Circuit on Sunday, writes Larry Carter.

Cumbrian Wilson, who owns the M-Sport World Rally Team, will be demonstrating the 600bhp supercar, now owned by Derbyshire businessman Steve Perez, during the lunchtime interval, treating thousands of spectators to one of the rare sights and sounds of rallying’s 1980s heyday.

Either side of Wilson taking to the track, competition in Northallerton Automobile Club’s annual festive special sees one of the strongest ever fields contesting eight stages of varying routes around the North Yorkshire racetrack just south of Darlington.

Leading the way will be six times winners and defending champions, Kevin Procter from Scruton and his Little Langton co driver Dave Bellerby, in their Procters Luxury Coaches Subaru WRC.

The local pair have been victorious in six of the last seven years and start as favourites again, but it won’t be a foregone conclusion as there are a host of top crews intent on wresting honours on one of the most popular festive motorsport events in the country.

Multiple British champion Steve Perez will make a rare trip to Croft in his Ford Focus WRC, which has seen World Championship victories in the hands of Markko Martin, while Scotch Corner’s Tony Bardy will continue his development work in his own Ford Focus WRC which he will share with Saltburn’s Neil Colman.

Castleton husband and wife, Ryan and Jemma Champion, return to action in their ex Pierro Liatti Subaru 555 and are seeded at four, with Lancastrian asphalt ace John Cope at five in the Subaru WRC he is sharing with top driver Arron Newby, who will be on the maps this weekend.

Sadly, Le Mans winner Guy Smith (MG Metro 6R4), originally seeded at six, and Scottish ace Shaun Sinclair (Subaru WRC) at seven, have had to withdraw meaning number eight, David and Shelley Wright, will be next on the road.

The BTRDA front-runners will be in action in a 2.5 litre Ford Escort Mk2 which should make for an exciting battle, especially when you consider Darlington pair, Paul and Jessica Swift, follow them at number nine in their powerful Millington-powered Ford Escort Mk2.

Peter Smith (MG Metro 6R4) completes the top ten, but there is quality right through the capacity entry with a host of local competitors.

Catterick’s Martyn Tinker (Lotus Exige), Hutton Rudby driver Ian Woodhouse (Ford Escort Mk2) and Graeme Bell from Northallerton in a similar car are all expected to feature well, as are Scorton driver Geoff Wright (Nissan Almera), Consett’s Barry Renwick (Proton Millington) and Alistair Hutchinson from Mickleton, who reverts back to his recently modified LPG-powered Renault Clio.

The lower class battles are expected to involve Thirsk’s Mat Smith (Proton Satria), Richmondshire driver Mark Constantine (Vauxhall Corsa) and Witton Gilbert’s Andy Fawcett in his rapid Vauxhall Nova. But the dark horse could well be the Coach2.com-backed Vauxhall Corsa of Bedale’s Joe Cunningham, who has been in tremendous form recently.

Gates open at 8am and the first car starts stage one at 9am, with the action continuing throughout the day and the final stage being run in complete darkness.

Admission costs £10 for adults with accompanied children under 15 being admitted free. Extensive free parking on hard standing is available, and for further information visit www.northallerton-ac.co.uk/xmas or www.croftcircuit.co.uk.