THE usual tranquility of a forest was replaced with the roar of racing cars today (Sunday, April 28) when it hosted a motor rally.

The Tour of Hamsterley, organised by Stockton and District Motor Club, was a round of four regional championships including the RAC Championship for historic cars.

The main course was set in Hamsterley Forest, in County Durham, but the event started and finished in the centre of Bishop Auckland, where spectators enjoyed a host of family attractions.

Of the 95 cars that started around 70 completed the race after some drivers were defeated by the challenging forest route, made more hazardous by weeks of bad weather in the run up to the event.

The rally was won by home driver Stephen Petch, son of event sponsor Steve Petch, in his Ford Focus world rally car and the first historic car past the finishing line was a Mark 2 Ford Escort, driven by Marty McCormack.

Steve Waggett, joint clerk of the course, said: “It has been a tremendous day. The course was challenging, especially because the weather wasn’t good and though we had some accidents everyone returned safely.

“The majority of competitors enjoyed it and we had tremendous support.”