AFTER an eight-month absence from the sport, Darlington precision driver Paul Swift returned in fine style with a double success in as many days to claim runner-up spot on both events he contested last weekend.

First up was the Accident Advice Solicitors Promenade Stages Rally, in Wallasey, which he contested alongside Barnard Castle co-driver Giles Dykes in the Jim Bean Motorsport-prepared, Millington-engined PSI Global UK, Smith and Allan Classic Oils and Smart Independent Financial Advisors-backed Ford Escort Mk2.

A good run through Friday night’s stages had the pair fourth overall and leading their class at the overnight halt and, despite a few issues with timings and results, Swift continued his climb up the leaderboard.

By halfway, the seven times British champion and multiple Guinness world record holder was up to third overall as he diced with the likes of Mark Holmes in the MG Metro 6R4 and Geoff Roberts’ powerful Darrian T90.

Not knowing exactly where he was placed prior to each stage, Swift ploughed on and, by the penultimate stage, was up to second overall. Armed with new tyres, he had a push on the final test to claim a superb runner-up placing just 17 seconds behind the Subaru WRC of Simon Bowen.

The following day, it was up to Sunderland for the Wearside Classic Rally, where Swift swapped his modern car for his historic-specification Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1, with wife Jessica in the co-driver’s seat.

The pair were having a good run until they suffered brake failure, which meant they had to complete the remaining stages without stopping power. But, despite this, they went on to claim second place overall, ironically 17 seconds behind the winner in a repeat of the previous day.

Meanwhile, on the Promenade Stages, it was a mixed day for the Bates family as the father and daughter duo of Bill and Katrina broke a driveshaft on the start of the first stage on their Tanfield Engineering Lotus Exige. They managed to make repairs overnight and got a run through the remaining stages, but weren’t classified as finishers.

Kari Bates and fellow Pickhill co-driver Chris Pattison survived a couple of scares to bring their Peugeot 106 home in a creditable 60th overall and ninth in class.

HAMSTERLEY driver Stephen Petch and Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress were cruelly denied when an overshoot on the final stage cost them victory on the Woodpecker Stages Rally, based in Ludlow, last weekend.

In their WD-40-backed and SGP Motorsport-prepared Ford Fiesta R5, the pair lost out by three seconds, ending their faint hopes of lifting the REIS BTRDA Rally Series title.

Ripon’s Charlie Payne came home fourth in his Ford Fiesta, while Teessider Peter Stephenson and John Connor claimed 25th overall and ninth in class in their MG S2000.

REDCAR Bears staged their final home league speedway match against Workington Comets on Thursday last week and were desperately looking for a win. The Bears were using three guest riders, compared to the Comets' two guests, all due to injuries.

The points were split in the first heat, but by heat four, the Bears had pulled out a four-point lead with wins for guests Steve Worrall and Nike Lunna, as well as Jan Graversen and Dimitri Berge. By heat seven, the Comets had reduced the Bears lead to just two points and, in heat nine, Bears guest riders Lunna and Theo Pijper scored a 4-2 to re-establish their slender four-point lead. The Bears hung on to this lead through to heat 12 before the Comets scored the only 5-1 of the match, in heat 13, to make the scores all square at 39-39.

Despite Graversen winning heat 14, the points were split before Worrall won the final heat, but again the points were split to make the result a 45-45 draw.

Last Friday night, the Bears had their last league match of the season, away to Scunthorpe Scorpions, and were again racing with guest riders. Despite Berge scoring 14 and Jonas B Andersen 10, it was not enough to beat the Scorpions, who had four riders scoring double figures to make the final score 51-39.

WITH a top ten that would grace a round of a national championship, Stockton and District Motor Club's flagship event, the SG Petch Tour of Hamsterley Rally, takes place tomorrow with last year’s winner Stephen Petch heading the entry list.

Petch lives a stone’s throw away from the forest complex where the majority of the event will take place and his Ford Fiesta will face tough opposition from the likes of Peter Stephenson (Ford Focus WRC), the Mk2 Ford Escorts of Matthew Robinson and Matt Edwards, the MG Metro 6R4 driven by Peter Smith and former national champion Steve Petch (Ford Fiesta S2000).

The organisers are still in need of stage marshals, so anyone able to assist is asked to contact the chief marshal via the website, tourofhamsterley.co.uk, where spectator information can also be found.