MALTON’S Steve Bannister and Scottish co-driver Kevin Rae took their second Roger Albert Clark Rally victory after another glorious three days of rallying through Yorkshire, County Durham and the Scottish Borders last weekend.

“Banner” was peerless in his Ford Escort Mk2 over 160 miles of stages, made even tougher by ice on Sunday morning. Two drivers took the fight to Bannister but were both caught out by the same deceptive crest in one of the Kielder Forest stages on Saturday night.

The tenth anniversary of the rally was another huge hit with competitors and thousands of spectators who flocked to the various venues.

Friday evening featured six stages in the Dalby complex, while Saturday’s route headed north via Croft and Hamsterley into Kielder before an overnight stop in Carlisle. Sunday was the sting in the tail with 70 competitive miles in the border forests.

Over the opening two legs, Ripon driver Matthew Robinson and co-driver Sam Collis along with Welshman Jason Pritchard and Cumbrian codriver John Millington chased Bannister hard, but the same crest in Pundershaw claimed them both as Pritchard rolled out on the first run and Robinson on the second time through the 12-mile stage.

With Robinson’s challenge over, it was left to Thirsk driver Tim Pearcey and Scottish co-driver Neil Shanks to claim their best RAC Rally result in fourth place overall despite losing time with a low-speed roll in their Willowgreen Homes-backed Ford Escort Mk2 in the Duncombe Park stage on Saturday morning.

Northallerton’s Charlie Taylor and Malton co-driver Steve Bielby claimed an impressive seventh overall in their CTMS Ford Escort Mk2 after a relatively trouble-free run on their annual jaunt, while Brompton driver Darren Grimston and Barnard Castle co-driver also had a successful event in the Electrocare Ford Escort Mexico.

A misfire on Friday evening was cured but an early morning clutch change was needed on Saturday. However, from then on, the car never missed a beat as the pair claimed 19th overall and a comprehensive class win in the process.

Ripon’s Mark Casey guided Stewart Scott to 23rd overall in their Ford Escort Mk2 with Newcastle co-driver Ronnie Roughead guiding Manxman Stephen Higgins to 25th overall and a class win in their two-stroke Saab 96.

Friday also saw the supporting Peregrine Print Dalby Night Rally with a handful of local competitors taking in the opening six stages of the RAC event and it was Thirsk ace Mat Smith, co-driven by Barnard Castle’s Giles Dykes, who took a resounding overall victory in their 1400cc Ford Ka.

Moulton’s Simon Cole and Hartburn co-driver Ian Jackson finished fourth overall and took a class win in their BMW 325i but for Thirsk pairing Amanda and Derek Cornforth, they suffered driveshaft failure on the fourth stage and had to retire their Ford Ka.

CATTERICK Village driver Martyn Tinker emerged victorious in the 6R4.com Rally Challenge following the final round. All rounds were held at the Three Sisters circuit at Wigan, where 17-year-old Jacqueline Jones, from North Wales, was the co-driver for all three rounds.

The pair took their first victory at the Roskirk Stages, in March, followed by a second overall in round two which comprised the Cetus Stages in May. The Adgespeed Stages last month saw the pair finish second overall behind championship sponsor Ian Rowlands in his MG Metro 6R4 but with class victories at all rounds, it was enough for Tinker to take the title. Next up for the pairing is the Christmas Stages at Croft on December 28 where they will contest the Northallerton AC event in their Type R powered Lotus Exige.

DARLINGTON and District Motor Club have once again teamed up with fuel conversion specialists Autogas 2000 as well as specialist motorsport PR company, Cartersport, for the Jack Frost Stages Rally which will take place at Croft Circuit on Sunday, January 19.

The event will again comprise up to eight stages totalling around 40 stage miles on the tarmac of the North East’s only permanent racetrack and will be a qualifying round of the AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship 2014, Fuchs Titan Race ANCC Stage Rally Championship 2014 and the SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship 2014.

With typically fast and flowing stages, the event usually attracts a capacity ninety-car entry, including some of the top drivers in the UK. Penrith MotoGP and BSB boss Paul Bird has won the event four times with event sponsor Chris Wise from Thirsk and Scotch Corner preparation expert Tony Bardy having three wins each.

The 2013 event was subject to heavy snowfall in the lead up to the rally and saw Bird unable to add to his winning streak of 2009 to 2012 in his Ford Focus WRC. Instead, Wise added to his victories in 2007 and 2008 in his iconic MG Metro 6R4 which he is expected to contest the event once more.

Scrutineering and documentation take place the same day as the event from 06:00 with the first car starting at 09.15. There are classes for cars up to 1400cc, up to 1600cc, up to 2000cc, over 2000cc and all four wheeldrive cars as well as pre-1981 classic rally cars.

Entry fee is £215 and the closing date is January 8, although competitors are advised to enter early. In a bid to help competitors financially, once again no cheques will be banked before January 3, or can be post-dated for that date.

For further information, call Terry Wright on 01325- 359895 (before 9pm), or via email at chair@darlingtonmotor- club.org.uk. Regulations and entry forms are now available at darlingtonmotor- club.org.uk