GUY WILKS is aiming for a hat- trick of wins in the 2004 Kwik-Fit/Pirelli British Rally Championship Super 1600 class when he takes his Suzuki Ignis to the Ulster Rally on September 3 and 4.

The event is significant in many ways, as the team, Wilks and co-driver Phil Pugh are challenging for six different titles, including British Teams, Super 1600 driver and co-driver and overall driver and co-driver.

Wilks led the Dealer Team Suzuki outfit to their second consecutive Super 1600 win on tarmac this season when he won the Manx International Rally.

That result thrust him into the Super 1600 Championship lead for the first time this season. The 23-year-old has now scored maximum points in four of the five events and aims to extend his championship lead in Northern Ireland.

"The most important thing is to finish the Ulster Rally, preferably on the top step of the Super 1600 podium," he said. "The Manx event demonstrated how well the Ignis can handle the smooth surface and we were able to test different settings to get the balance of the car right for Ulster."

The Manx Rally result pushed Wilks up into sixth place overall in the Kwik-Fit/Pirelli British Rally Championship, although he is concentrating his efforts on winning the Super 1600 title.

"My main priority this season is to win the British Super 1600 title and now I've taken the lead in the Super 1600 Drivers' Championship, I'm determined not to slip up," Wilks said.

"It's very pleasing to be sixth overall because we're in a front-wheel drive 1600cc car and competing against the more powerful two-litre turbocharged four-wheel drive World Rally cars."

* Shildon's Barry Johnson secured his second win of the year in the County Saab Scottish Rally Championship at the weekend.

The former champion, on course to finish runner-up in the title race, behind the all-conquering Raymond Munro, finished 38 seconds ahead of Aberdeen's Dave Weston in the Little the Jewellers Speyside Stages in Elgin.

Johnson and co-driver Stewart Merry won the all-tarmac Jim Clark in July but this was the pair's first win on gravel since 2002.

"Everything went pretty smoothly today," said Johnson, driving the ex-Petter Solberg World Championship-winning Subaru.

"We never really put a foot wrong today and it's terrific to get another win.

"Although I can't win the driver's championship, Stewart is now favourite to lift the co-driver's title and with only one round remaining I'll be doing everything I can to get the championship for him."

l Croft Circuit will echo to the sound of yesteryear once again when the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club hold their annual meeting over two days this weekend.

Throughout the weekend there will be plenty of action with no less than 21 classes, both solo and sidecar, set to be fought out over 30 races around the 2.13-mile full circuit.

A host of top riders are on the entry list, including world champion Glen English.

As well as the sights and sounds of the machines of the Classic and Post Classic eras ranging from the 1960s to the 1980s, the meeting includes a round of the 350cc and 500cc National Championships as well as a parade of historic machinery, including Mike Hailwood's 1961 World Championship winning Honda-4.

Other attractions include the opportunity to ride the circuit in a spectator parade for just £15 (road legal bikes with documents and full protective clothing required), while members of motorcycle clubs will be able to gain two for the price of one entry upon production of a valid membership card.

Practice starts on Saturday at 9.30am and noon on Sunday. Adult admission costs £10 on each day.

For further details contact Claire Jones at Croft on (01325) 721815

* The Darlington and District Motor Club have taken over the running of the 2004 MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix, which is to be held at Croft Circuit on November 6 and 7.

Following on from the success of both the Touring Cars and the Superbikes, the Rallycross Grand Prix will bring to the North-East the cream of the European scene and the best of the British Supercar drivers. DDMC have already attracted Sweden's Morgan Antonsson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 - 2000T), Finland's Marko Jokinen (Peugeot 206 - 2000T), Hungary's Gyorgy Fodor (Toyota Carina E - 2040T) and Britain's Will Gollop (Ford Focus RS - 2000T).

"We want the spectators to feel part of this spectacular," said organiser Terry Wright. "We will be encouraging them to actively support their favourite driver and will be bringing the drivers in to the crowd to meet their fans."

The club is also keeping the admission costs down to attract families with a weekend pre-ordered ticket pegged at £15.

Joining the 500bhp 4WD Supercars will be teams of five 2WD SuperNational and Modified saloons contesting the Internations Cup.