ONCE again, Northallerton AC has managed to attract a good quality field for the annual Food Weighouse Christmas Stages rally starting at Catterick Garrison tomorrow.

Heading the entry on the gravel tracks around the vast military base is last year's winner Charlie Payne in his Mitsubishi Lancer who will be hoping for his fourth victory on the event which is usually susceptible to ice and snow. But the Ripon farmer and his York co-driver Craig Thorley can expect a stiff challenge from the very healthy local contingent as well as a host of other top drivers who are heading north for the rally.

Former BTRDA Champion Brian Bell will be bringing his Ford Escort WRC to the line and is expected to be a major contender for honours but Nottingham's Dave Wood will also be looking to repeat his recent Galloway Hills success in his Subaru and cannot be ruled out.

1997 winner and Mintex Championship runner up this season, Anth Eaton from Hornby heads the local challenge in his Ford Escort Cosworth after enlisting brother in law Jeff Talbot from Yarm as co-driver but former rallycross champion Tony Bardy of Scotch Corner, winner of the recent Dalby Gravel Sprint in his 4 wheel drive Nissan Sunny, is sure to be a dark horse as is event sponsor Chris Lewis from Exelby in his Mitsubishi with Northallerton's John Richardson alongside him.

Glen Workman of Leeming and Paul Hudson from Darlington should also figure in the Sapphire Cosworth after a two-year absence from the event and winners of the Riponian Rally earlier this year Matt Yeadon from Pickhill and Boltby's Richard Shores, can't be ruled out in their Nu Era Cosworth.

Another crew sure to do well despite it being the debut event in their newly acquired Pagid Escort Cosworth are Hunton's Paul Lawson and his co-driver Andy Stephenson from Scorton.

The Bedale pairing of Kevin Procter and Mark Lawson will be out in a Mitsubishi Lancer for the first time with Procter hoping to repeat his 1998 victory on the event

An interesting late entry is that of former Mintex Champion Steve Smith from Northallerton who will be out in his ex Carlos Sainz Lancia Delta Integrale after a good outing on the recent Network Q Rally of Great Britain. Smith will be handing the maps to teenage son Ben for his first competitive outing.

Richmond's Barry Pittaway and Dave Kirby have also left it until the last minute to enter and rather than going for F2 honours in thier usual Nissan, they have acquired another Mitsubishi Lancer in order to tackle the event. Thirsk driver Peter Stephenson has also decided to give his Group N Mitsubishi a run out after the Network Q Rally last month."

They can expect tough opposition from the likes of Northallerton's Charlie Taylor/Murray Foster in the Mark 2 Escort and Richard Welford/Jonathan Carver from Crakehall in the revamped Peugeot 306 S16.

BTRDA champions Mark and Andrew Constantine from Richmond will be out on their local event in the reliable Nova as will owner of the British Superbike championship Monstermob Ducati team Paul Bird and D&S correspondent Larry Carter from Northallerton, who impressed with an 9th place overall on the recent Grizedale Stages in the SGP Motorsport Impreza.

Bryan Gill, formerly from Bedale and now living near York is a surprise entry after a year on the sidelines and is expected to be in contention with his Bedale co-driver Jonathan Bean.

Newly crowned Mintex champion Steve Petch who lives at Scorton has been seconded to drive his Ford Escort WRC as course car at the head of the field that includes entries from as far apart as Scotland, Devon and Kent.

Other locals to watch out for will be Steven Lawson (Middleham) in a Talbot Sunbeam, Steve Williams from Northallerton in his Metro, Jon Moor and Mike Barnes from Guisborough in their respective Escorts, Ian Rudd from Thirsk in a Cosworth, Dave Cox from Darlington in his Rover, as well as Stuart Adamson and Andrew Holmes from Leyburn in another pair of Escorts.

Spectators can catch the action on Waithwith Bank (on the Leyburn to Richmond unclassified road) at 09.34, 11.38 and 14.12 tomorrow. Admission costs £5 per car.

Spectator Information

Today. - Scrutineering: Charlie Taylor's Garage, Standard Way, Northallerton (3-8pm)

Tomorrow.- Start at AVA Barracks, Catterick Camp Centre (9.30)

Stages: Foxglove 1 (9.34), Foxglove 2 (11.38), Deep Ghyll (2.12) Leyburn to Richmond (unclassified) road at Waithwith Bank Car Park (£5.00 per car). All other stages on private land, no public acces