IN one of the toughest events in recent years due to the wet and slippy conditions, the region's crews enjoyed mixed fortunes when the final round of the World Rally Championship was played out on the Network Q Rally of Great Britain last week.

Ripon driver Charlie Payne produced the best performance of the local contingent taking part in the event, which was based in Cardiff and held entirely in Wales for the first time.

Payne and co-driver Craig Thorley from York brought their MSR Mitsubishi Lancer home in a brilliant 43rd overall after the 1,000-mile event.

In his first attempt at the rally since 1995, Payne overcame turbo problems which slowed him during day two to charge up the leaderboard and claim 23rd in class.

Also making his Rally GB comeback was South Otterington garage owner Steve Smith, who took the ex-Carlos Sainz Walkers Lancia to 46th overall on the car's swansong.

Co-driven by new Mintex national champion John Richardson from Northallerton - on his first ever Rally GB - Smith overcame a broken fuel pump and near collision with a gate to clinch 24th in class. It was his fourth finish out of four events, the last one being back in 1991.

But two of the area's other teams were forced to retire from the gruelling event.

Richmond's Barry Pittaway, making his Rally GB debut in the Industrial Building Company-backed Nissan Sunny, ended up retiring on the road section after stage five on Friday.

Pittaway and co-driver Andrew Tatham from Newton Aycliffe were up to a magnificent 75th overall and third in class when the front differential broke as they crossed the finish line of the Crychan stage. But the Melsonby garage owner hopes to try again next year.

Thirsk driver Peter Stephenson also retired when his Mitsubishi Lancer failed to emerge from the notorious 12th stage at Rheola on day three. The managing director from Kepwick was running in the showroom Group N class and was inside the top 80 overall and 30 in class when his rally ended.

l Despite the possibility of the inclement weather normally associated with the event, there is a good chance of a local victory on the annual Grizedale Stages which takes place tomorrow in the Lake District.

Having their first outing for two months, newly-crowned Mintex national champions Steve Petch from Scorton and Northallerton's John Richardson will be hot favourites after deciding to contest the event in their Ford Escort World Rally Car as opposed to the production Subaru.

But Petch can expect stiff competition from a number of crews, including Shildon's Barry Johnson and co-driver Peter Croft from Richmond who will among the favourites in their 555 version of the Subaru Impreza.

Bedale driver Chris Lewis will be competing in his Mitsubishi and Guy Wilks, the promising youngster from Darlington, will be using a Ford Puma instead of his usual Ka.

D&S Times correspondent Larry Carter will be co-driving for Paul Bird in the new SGP Motorsport Subaru Impreza Coupe.

l More motor sport on p25