LOCAL drivers Steve Petch and Barry Johnson enjoyed an epic tussle as they battled it out to become top driver on last weekend's Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, held in the dry and dusty forests of the Yorkshire moors.

After two days of competition covering more than 110 stage miles, Scorton driver Petch and his Northallerton co-driver John Richardson finished just 30 seconds ahead of Johnson from Shildon and his co-driver Stewart Merry.

But Petch, in his Hyundai Accent WRC, and Johnson's Subaru WRC had to give best to a quartet of crews in front of them.

Finn Tapio Laukkenen (Subaru) won the penultimate round of the Pirelli British Rally Championship ahead of Yorkshireman Jonny Milner, who successfully defended his title with second place in his Toyota Corolla WRC.

Third place overall went to another Finn, Jari Matti Latvala (Ford Focus), with Ireland's Austin McHale bringing his Subaru home just over a minute in front of Petch.

Ryan Champion from Castleton set the fastest Super 1600 time on five of the 15 stages, but an unfortunate driveshaft failure kept him down the order at the finish.

After a short blast through the spectator stage at Pickering showground, the event moved on to the gravel roads in the North Yorkshire forests.

Champion was quickly into his stride, setting fastest S1600 time on the opening nine-mile forest stage, just one second ahead of former British Rally champion Gwyndaf Evans in his MG ZR.

However, misfortune struck the Ford Junior Team driver soon after when a driveshaft broke on his Road Eye-supported Puma. With no service allowed for two more stages, Champion and co-driver Cliff Simmons had to struggle on for a further 25 miles through the Dalby Forest complex before the car could be repaired.

But Champion bounced back with a string of impressive times to claim sixth in class and 31st overall at the Malton finish.

Two supporting events were incorporated into the weekend's action with the National Rally taking place during Saturday's stages and Sunday's tests involving competitors in the Clubman's Rally.

In the National event, Exelby's Chris Lewis and York co-driver Jon Dunning claimed sixth overall and fifth in class in their Mitsubishi, one place ahead of Thirsk-based driver Mike Altendorf and his co-driver Ian Windress from Northallerton.

Scorton's Stephen Petch junior and co-driver Mike Wilkinson from Tow Law were 11th in their Subaru, but four other crews failed to see the finish.

Leeming driver Kevin Procter and co-driver Mick Gilby from Northallerton retired their Subaru after the opening stage before Tristan Pye from Bishop Auckland did likewise two stages later.

Thimbleby businessman David Brown and co-driver Paul Hudson (Darlington) went out on SS3 in their Ford Puma 4x4, while Lealholm's Nick Cook retired his Mitsubishi after SS4.

The Clubmen's event saw Harrogate's Tim Pearcey and Mick Johnson from Thirsk claim a brilliant third overall on their way to a class win in their Ford Escort, with Northallerton driver Charlie Taylor finishing 11th and fourth in class in his Mark 2.

Ian Rudd from Thirsk retired his Sapphire on SS2, while Crakehall's Richard Welford went out on the final stage in his and Hartburn co-driver Ian Jackson's Ford Escort Cosworth.

* Kirby Stephen rider John Ingram made the successful trip across the Pennines to land the prestigious Laird of Croft trophy at last weekend's North East Motorcycle Racing Club's end of season bonanza at the North Yorkshire track.

The 28-year-old joiner only started racing this year after a number of seasons in motocross and the meeting was only his ninth ever.

On his first visit to Croft, he fended off a strong local and Scottish challenge to claim victory on his 1000cc Suzuki ahead of Eaglescliffe rider Andrew Bennett (1000cc Suzuki), who was just five seconds adrift after the ten-lap race.

Scot John Bey brought his 1000cc Suzuki home in third ahead of Chester le Street rider David Bell aboard his 600cc Merlin Honda after reigning champion, Scotsman Phil Stewart, had gone out on his similar machine.

There was plenty of success for other local stars during the two-day event, including Scotton sidecar ace Greg Lambert's victory in Sunday's F2 event after he and passenger Tony Belsey had finished fourth in the final round of the ACU Sidecar Championship earlier in the day aboard their 600cc Yamaha outfit.

Guisborough's Keith Taylor (400 JW Yamaha) managed to secure a brace of wins in the F400 class on Sunday after two rostrum places the previous day, with Bell also claiming a win and a third place on Sunday in the F600 race.

Bennett also took third in the 1300cc open race on Sunday to add to his pair of runner-up placings on Saturday, while BMW Boxer Cup star Barry Burrell (Bishop Auckland) took time out from his globe-trotting adventures to post a pair of second places in the Sound of Thunder class.

Simon Franklin from Durham recorded a best result of third on his 600cc Hunter's Suzuki during Saturday's action, with consistency proving to be the key for Guisborough's Kevin Watson, who scored a quartet of top 12 finishes on his Sound of Thunder Aprilia.

Yarm rider Mike Raw just missed out on the top 12 in his four races on his 400cc Honda, while Bishop Auckland's Brian Neilson did likewise on his 600cc Suzuki.

Shane Bedford from Middlesbrough had a best result of 32nd in Saturday's F600 race on his 600cc Yamaha, but Peterlee rider Neil West failed to see the chequered flag in both of his races in the same class.

Tony Thirkell from Rainton and passenger Roy King enjoyed mixed fortunes aboard their 600cc Yamaha outfit to record a best result of 11th in the ACU/FSRA race on Sunday, 13 places in front of Scorton's Ruth Laidlow and her passenger Andrea Brearley, who took a fine 12th place in the later club race aboard their Baker 600.

* Guisborough road racer Dennis Hobbs managed another pair of victories at the final round of the British Superbike Championship held at Donington Park last weekend, but it wasn't enough to keep his slim hopes of the title alive.

The 20-year-old was racing just two weeks after dislocating his collarbone, which ruled him out of the previous round at Brands Hatch, but he bravely took a race win in each of the Privateers Cup legs.

But series leader Dave Wood just needed to finish and the Aylesbury rider did just that to clinch the title, leaving Hobbs to settle for runner-up spot.

Such was the extent of his suffering that, after he had completed the final race, Hobbs' shoulder gave way on the slowing down lap, forcing him to drop the Hobbs Racing Sterling Services Suzuki and dislocating the limb in the process once again.

Also crashing out was Skutterskelfe rider Russ Hodgson, who slid off his Alan Haywood/Tillston's-backed Yamaha in the final round of the Virgin Mobile R6 Cup. But the 22-year-old still salvaged eighth in the final standings.

In the 125cc class, Middlesbrough's Paul Veazey finished his season in tenth aboard the Banks Racing GV Decorators Honda to claim an important top ten placing in the championship, but Stockton racer Michael Hill failed to make the points sheet after being forced to sit out the final round due to a recurring injury.

Leyburn racer James Brackenbury was back in action at national level for the first time this season and responded by posting a top 20 finish on his Suzuki in the Pro Bike Championship race