AFTER another successful season, Croft Circuit is preparing for its winter programme, with two popular rallies taking centre stage, writes Larry Carter.

The Swift Signs and Shirts Christmas Stages Rally takes place on Saturday, December 30, and has already attracted an oversubscribed entry featuring a number of top drivers.

Last year’s winner, Guy Smith (Ford Focus WRC), is back to defend his crown, but Leeming’s Kevin Procter will be hoping to get his name on the winner’s trophy for an unprecedented eighth time.

Procter will wheel out his recently-acquired Procter’s Luxury Coaches Ford Fiesta WRC for the Northallerton AC-organised event.

Darlington stunt driver Paul Swift is also entered, along with former British champion Ryan Champion from Castleton and local Scotch Corner ace Tony Bardy in his Ford Focus WRC.

Three weeks after the Christmas Stages Rally, it is the turn of Darlington and District Motor Club to stage the Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally on Sunday, January 21, 2018. Regulations will shortly be available at www.darlington-motor-club.org.uk.

Meanwhile, in the recent North Humberside Cadwell Park Rally, which comprised the second round of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship, Great Broughton’s Ian Woodhouse and Yarm co-driver Jason Leaf brought home their Ford Escort Mk2 in third place.

Kepwick driver Peter Stephenson finished seventh in his ABLE UK-backed Subaru, one place ahead of Northallerton Proton duo Graeme Bell and Russ Radford.

County Durham pair Ian Bainbridge and St John Dykes finished 20th in their Subaru, while Northallerton’s Andrew Chandler and Linda Ashman finished 45th overall and second in class in their Ford Escort.

Darlington driver Colin Butler finished 56th overall in the Renault Clio he was sharing with Barnard Castle’s Andrew Hutchinson, but SS6 claimed the Ford Fiesta of Stokesley pair Mark and John Burton as well as Northallerton’s Craig Whitehead (Peugeot 205).

Thirsk duo Rob Herrington and Charlotte Wainwright were unfortunate to suffer clutch failure on the very last stage in their Ford Escort.