NORTH YORKSHIRE driver Kevin Procter claimed his sixth victory in the last seven years in Northallerton AC’s popular Christmas Stages Rally at the weekend, but the Subaru WRC driver had to overcome some treacherous driving conditions to claim the crown.

Leeming-based Procter, who was partnered by Northallerton co-driver Dave Bellerby, had to deal with stretches of black ice as well as one of the strongest fields in a number of years to triumph at Croft Circuit.

In front of a bumper festive crowd, Thirkleby driver Mike Herrington and Hartlepool co-driver Rachel Heel took advantage of the rapidly-thawing conditions to set the fastest time on SS1 from a seeding of 82 in their Ford Escort with Procter only fourth, but by SS2, the leading contenders were starting to come to the fore.

As conditions improved, Procter hit the front in SS3 and by the finish, he had pulled more than a minute-and-a-half clear of runner-up David White, with the MG Metro 6R4 of Yorkshireman Peter Smith half a minute further back in third.

Fourth went the way of Lancastrian driver Graham Coffey, who was partnered by Newcastle co-driver Andrew Roughead in a Ford Fiesta WRC, and Pickhill duo Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor West claimed fifth in their MG Metro 6R4.

The Proton Millington Satria of Midlander Oliver Mellors, co-driven by Richmond’s Reg Smith, finished sixth, with the first two-wheel-drive car coming home in seventh in the hands of Darlington driver Paul Swift. Along with wife-to-be co-driver, Jessica Bell, Swift drove his Ford Escort Mk2 to a class win for good measure.

Another class-winning performance came from Richmond brothers Mark and Andrew Constantine, who powered their 1400cc Vauxhall Corsa to a top-ten placing overall. Catterick driver Martyn Tinker and co-driver Heather Grisedale claimed Class 3 and 11th overall in their Lotus Exige.

Twelfth overall and second in Class 4 went the way of Consett’s Barry Renwick and co-driver Steve Dargan, with the Saltburn pairing of Ian and Nick Colman claiming 14th overall in their Nissan Sunny GTi-R.

Hutton Rudby brothers Ian and Stephen Woodhouse ended 16th overall and third in class in their 2.5 litre Ford Escort, three places ahead of Ingleby Barwick driver Martyn Peters and Stokesley co-driver Jason Leaf, who drove well to claim second in Class 2 in their 1600cc Citroen Saxo.