NORTHALLERTON driver Paige Bellerby continued where she left off last season as she claimed victory in the SuperNational class at the opening round of the British Rallycross Championship at Croft, writes Larry Carter.

Driving a Lotus Exige, Bellerby fought off the opposition to claim first blood in the series, and backed up her victory in the final round of last year’s title race at Croft.

Joining the 21-year-old on the podium was Teessider Marty Hawkes, who took victory in the BMW Mini class after some superb driving through the heats before claiming the opening round honours in a bruising final.

There was silverware too for Richmond’s Tom Constantine, who claimed second place in the Junior Swift Championship with cousin, James Constantine, from nearby Dalton-on-Tees, finishing sixth.

In the Swift Sport Championship, Cleasby’s Robert Shield returned to the sport in impressive fashion as he took the runner-up spot in the final.

David Bell from Ferryhill finished third in the BMW Mini class, with Stockton’s Andy Hawkes in fourth, while Romanby driver Drew Bellerby’s hopes of a good result were dashed when she suffered a puncture in the final and had to settle for fifth after a couple of spins. Teenager Jennie Hawkes made it a good day for the Hawkes Fire team when she took seventh place in the final.

Stokesley’s Stewart Bowes took third place in his Austin Mini in the retro class, with Brompton driver Darren Grimston claiming fifth. Great Broughton’s Terry Maynard overcame a spin in his Triumph TR8 to finish seventh ahead of Lance Foster from Durham in his Mini.

The Croft crowd were hoping for a local victory in the Supercar class, and all was looking good for Leeming’s Kevin Procter who sailed through the heats in his Ford Fiesta, but a sluggish start in the final saw him have to battle through the dust to eventually claim second place after a brutal six-lap race.

Barnard Castle driver ‘Mad’ Mark Watson was forced to retire his Citroen Xsara in the Supercar final, while East Harlsey’s Guy Corner was a victim of damage to his Peugeot 206 in the SuperNational final. Stokesley driver Jason Bowes also failed to finish in the Hot Hatch class after a tough day in his Citroen.