Croft Circuit plays host to the 2004 MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix this weeked with many of the sport's top drivers and most powerful cars set to battle it out for the prestigious title.

Britain's Will Gollop (Ford Focus) is one of the favourites to add to his three Grand Prix titles, as will be former British GP winner Pat Doran, who will drive the ex-Carlos Sainz Ford Escort as opposed to his Ford RS200 which took him to the British Championship two years ago.

But the pair of Kentish drivers will have their work cut out, given the entry includes eight-times British and Irish champion Dermot Carnegie (Ford Focus), one of a number of Irishmen looking to retain the crown for the Republic after John Haffey's success in 2002.

While Haffey is absent, the Irish challenge is maintained by his Scotch Corner-based Tony Bardy Motorsport team in the hands of Christopher Evans, who will race the ex-Steiner Joranli Opel Astra as well as countryman John McCluskey in the ex-Helmut Holfeld championship winning Peugeot 306.

Making his debut at Croft will be three-times French champion Laurent Terroitin, who brings his formidable Citroen Xsara to North Yorkshire in a bid to lift the title, while Hungarian Gyorgy Fodor will drive the ex BTCC Toyota Carina E in the two-day event.

The Scandinavian challenge is as strong as ever, with nine drivers set to do battle around the super-fast circuit. Denmark's Torben Muller will bring his SEAT Cordoba over once more after racing it the last time the GP was run in 2002.

He will be a serious contender, as will fellow Dane and 2004 Division One champion Kaspar Aaskov in his 460bhp Ford Puma.

Tony Bell, from Ferryhill, will carry local as well as British hopes for success in his venerable Toyota Corolla WRC that has undergone a major repair since a huge crash at Lydden a couple of years ago, while two late entries have come in from Portuguese Rallycross champion Eduardo Veiga (Ford Focus) and British driver Chris Cake, who has hired Morgan Antonsson's Saab 93 for the 17th running of the event.

The supporting Internations Cup will also see drivers from six countries battle it out for two-wheel drive honours with England among the favourites to win the title back from Norway who claimed victory in the mud and rain of two years ago.

Local driver Dave Bellerby (Vauxhall Nova) from Northallerton will team up with Hartlepool's Des Wheatley (Rover Metro) and Cumbrian Mike Dresser (Lotus Exige) with the team being completed by Gordon Rogers (Vauxhall Corsa) and Mike Turpin (Vauxhall Nova).

The meeting, organised by Darlington and District Motor Club, starts on Saturday with free practice from 11am, followed by timed qualifying from 1.15pm, then the first of two rounds of heats starting at 3pm. Racing starts on Sunday at 12pm following warm-ups from 9.30am and the pit lane walkabout from 10.30 to 11.30. The first of the finals is scheduled to start at 3.30pm.

Admission is £12 per adult each day with accompanied children under 15 admitted free.

Published: 04/11/2004