PAT DORAN withstood the challenge of the hard-charging Laurent Terroitin to get his hands on the British Rallycross Grand Prix title at Croft yesterday.

It is fully 13 years since the Kent-based driver last lifted the trophy and there was no way he was going to relinquish his grip on the lead in yesterday's A final, despite the presence of the indomitable Frenchman.

Doran, in his Ford Escort, claimed victory just 0.636 seconds ahead of his rival, who had charged through the pack during the six-lap race after starting at the back.

Dermot Carnegie came home third, with Helmut Holfeld fourth. Local hero Tony Bell finished a fine fifth, while three-time champion Will Gollop had to settle for sixth.

Doran was second on the front row for the Grand Prix in a car that is still under development and had only been used in three previous events. The victory was all the more impressive considering it was the first time he had driven a left-hand drive car with a sequential gearbox.

"It was a surprise because I am still learning the car," said a delighted Doran. "At the start we had Dermot Carnegie, the British champion, on one side and Will Gollop on the other, which showed how quick the Brits are against the Europeans.

"On the first lap I didn't look in the mirror at all - I just did my own thing and kept a tight line all the way round just to settle down.

"Then to my surprise on the second lap, I looked in my mirror and there was this awesome works Citroen right behind me that has come right from the back of the grid to second."

The Citroen belonged to Terroitin, the three-time French champion, and Doran knew he had his work cut out.

"I thought 'we will have to up the stakes' and to be honest I haven't driven that fast for a couple of years!" he said. "But we kept him at bay. I didn't make any mistakes and we tended to get some good grip down the straights, which meant we were able to keep in front."

Doran, who was runner-up in the European Rallycross Championship in 1992 and also second in the 2003 British Championship among other honours, said he was proud of his own and his team's achievement.

"It's up there with the best, really," he said. "I won the Grand Prix back in 1991, a long time ago, but it's dear to my heart and to win it a second time was great. The crowd was very emotional and everyone was cheering and they reckoned you could hear the roar in Darlington!"

In the supporting Internations Cup, Norway pipped England by just two points, 58 to 56. Wales and Scotland tied on 44 with Ireland on 38.

In the Junior Minicross, Jonathan Greer took first place in the one-make final, taking his Rover Mini across the line in 4:32.16, just over a second ahead of Joe Powis.

Darlington's Guy Wilks finished off the 2004 Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Super 1600 Rally Championship in style with yet another class winning performance in his Suzuki Ignis on the Tempest Rally in Aldershot.

The victory clinched yet another title for Suzuki as Wilks' co-driver Phil Pugh secured the 2004 British Super 1600 co-driver's title, his first major rallying success in over 15 years.

Wilks won 17 of the 18 special stages to finish over five minutes ahead of Barry Clark (Ford Puma) in the Super 1600 class and eighth overall. The 23-year-old scored maximum points on six of the eight rounds of the British Super 1600 Championship, finishing the season 27 points ahead of Jonnie Wigmore (Ford Puma).

Wilks said: "This victory and maximum points this weekend has rounded off a superb season for everyone involved with Suzuki and Dealer Team Suzuki. I'm really pleased for Phil to have secured his co-drivers' title as it completes a memorable season in our first full year with the team and Suzuki."

Dealer Team Suzuki's team manager Risto Laine was the first to heap praise on Wilks and Pugh.

"Both Guy and Phil have worked tremendously hard this season and they've reaped the rewards. We couldn't have asked for a better season," he said.

In the British Teams' Championship Wilks' win secured second place for Dealer Team Suzuki just behind M-Sport.

Laine added: "To come so close to winning the British Teams' Championship shows how well the team has worked together this season."

Mark Higgins and Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC) finished 1min 23.7secs ahead of younger brother David Higgins' Hyundai Accent WRC, to win the Tempest Rally.

Published: 08/11/2004