LOCAL motorsport fans are in for a pre-Christmas treat with the popular Swift Signs and Shirts Christmas Stages Rally due to take place at Croft Circuit this Sunday, writes Larry Carter.

The annual Northallerton Automobile Club event is taking place a little earlier than usual, and has attracted one of the strongest fields assembled in recent years with an eclectic mix of cars and drivers set to compete over eight stages of varying routes around Croft.

Leading the capacity 90-car entry will be seven-time winner Kevin Procter, from Scruton, who will have Northallerton co-driver Dave Bellerby on the maps. The local businessman hasn’t sampled victory for two years at Croft, so will be keen to get back to winning ways in his Procters Luxury Coaches-backed Ford Fiesta WRC, which saw him win at Oulton Park last month.

Last year’s winners, Simon de Banke and Phil Mills, are not defending their title, so it could well be double Croft winner, Guy Smith, who takes the challenge to Procter. The former Le Mans 24 Hours winner will be behind the wheel of the Ford Fiesta R5+ in which he and Welsh co-driver, Patrick Walsh, took victory at Cadwell Park a couple of weeks ago. As a winner of both the Christmas Stages and the DDMC-organised Jack Frost Stages Rally, the Yorkshireman knows his way around Croft.

Teesside businessman Peter Stephenson wheels out his Subaru WRC with Northallerton’s Ian Windress co-driving, while Scottish visitor Gordon Morrison and co-driver Calum MacPherson could upset the English with victory in their Subaru Impreza.

Scotch Corner preparation expert Tony Bardy along with Mickleton co-driver Tony Walker will be in action in their Ford Focus WRC as Bardy bids to win the event for the first time, while the second Smith on the entry list, Peter – Guy’s father – hopes for more family success in his Ford Fiesta WRC.

The powerful Ford Escort Mk2s of Darlington pair Paul and Jessica Swift along with Malton driver Rob Snowden and co-driver Mark Fisher will be as spectacular as ever, with the top ten being rounded out by the Subaru Impreza of Lee and Cole Hastings.

Others expected to be at the sharp end in the four-wheel drive class include Sun newspaper columnist Rob Gill (Ford Fiesta), Brompton-on-Swale driver Geoff Wright in the Ford Fiesta S2000 he’ll share with Chris Sanderson, and Guisborough taxidermist Dave Hornbrook (Mitsubishi).

Mickleton’s Alistair Hutchinson with Staindrop co-driver St. John Dykes (Renault Clio) and Durham pair Ed Todd/Andy Brown (GTM Coupe) will be battling it out in the two-litre class, while in the strong 1600cc class, Cumbrians Barry Lindsey and Caroline Lodge should be the leading force in their Peugeot 106 but can expect stiff opposition from David/Mathew White (Ford Fiesta) and Scottish duo Des Campbell/Craig Forsyth (Peugeot 206).

In the 1400cc class, the main rivalry is expected to involve Richmond brothers Mark and Andrew Constantine (Vauxhall Corsa), but the dark horse could well be the Coach2.com-backed Vauxhall Corsa of Bedale’s Joe Cunningham, along with Northallerton co-driver Marc Fowler, who have been in tremendous form again this year.

Gates open at 8am on Sunday, and the first car starts stage one at 9am. Action continues throughout the day, with the final stage being run in complete darkness. Advance tickets are available at a reduced price of £8 per adult, with admission on the day costing £10. Accompanied children under 15 are being admitted free.