TOP-CLASS rallycross returns to the region on Sunday when Darlington and District Motor Club stage the final round of the 2016 Autosport International BTRDA National Rallycross Championship at Croft Circuit, writes Larry Carter.

The event has attracted a huge entry of 84 cars, which is Croft’s biggest rallycross entry this year. The battle for the championship is wide open, with ten drivers still in with a chance of claiming the prestigious overall BTRDA crown. With double points on offer, the title battle is much too close to call.

The entry list, which also includes some top European drivers from Belgium and Holland, features top-spec 550bhp supercars, the unique SuperModified cars, production and historic cars, and will feature more than 45 different races.

The headlining 4 x 4 class sees ten cars doing battle, and is led by hotelier ‘Mad’ Mark Watson from Barnard Castle in his Citroen Xsara. The entry also includes last year’s champion, Gary Pusey (Subaru Impreza), and father and son Mike and Liam Manning (Subaru Imprezas).

The two-wheel drive SuperModified class has attracted a huge entry of 30 cars, with local drivers including Newcastle Citroen C2 drivers Mike Boak and Phil Chicken as well as Northallerton’s Guy Corner (Peugeot 206) and Brian Jukes from Barnard Castle in his diesel-powered Audi TT.

However, they will be hard pushed in a class which sees drivers from Belgium, Holland, Wales and Ireland all looking for the top spot. One driver hoping to take the honours is the returning 2014 BTRDA champion Kieran Curran (Ireland) driving his ultra-fast 1600cc Vauxhall Corsa.

Other classes in action on a busy day include those for production, historic, autocross and junior rallycross. Sixteen production cars will compete for championship points, and they are headed by local driver Martin Peters from Ingleby Barwick in his Citroen Saxo.

He will be up against 2015 champion John Ward (Ireland) and James Orton (Leeds), with other local interest centring on Ian Horn (Stokesley), Neil Maynard (Great Broughton), Nick Thornton (Thirsk) and Darren Grimston (Northallerton) in the historic class.

Jarrow’s Laura Boak will be looking to impress in what will only be her second-ever event in the junior rallycross class.

Gates open at 8.30am on Sunday with practice starting at 9am and heats from 10am, with the finals after the lunch break.

Adult admission is £10 each day, with children 15 and under accompanied by an adult admitted free. Extensive free parking car parking is available, along with access to the paddock. Refreshments and grandstand seating are available and for further information, visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk or call 01325 721815.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire's Mike 'Spike' Edwards raced his way to a couple of third places in the Middle East recently in the opening round of the Bahrain Superbike Championship.

It was the Harrogate racer’s first time racing at the track on his Ducati 899, and he will be looking for an improvement when he plans to return in early December.