AFTER going two years without a victory on their home event, local motorsport stars Kevin Procter and Dave Bellerby returned to winning ways at Northallerton AC’s Swift Signs & Shirts Christmas Stages Rally held at Croft Circuit, writes Larry Carter.

Runners-up last year, Procter, who is from Scruton, teamed up with his Northallerton-based co-driver, Bellbery, in a Ford Fiesta WRC to overcome tricky damp conditions and triumph in all eight stages.

Their overall victory margin was 79 seconds as they claimed an impressive eighth win in the festive event.

Once the early challenge from former winners Guy Smith/Patrick Walsh (Ford Fiesta R5+) and Scotch Corner’s Tony Bardy and Mickleton co-driver Tony Walker (Ford Focus WRC) ended in both crews suffering mechanical problems after SS2, no one really got a look in as Procter eased to victory.

He stopped the clocks two seconds faster than Smith on SS1 before increasing the lead to 22 seconds as the milder conditions allowed the track to dry.

The gap extended to 34 seconds over Peter Smith/Graham Wild (Ford Fiesta WRC) after SS3 and by the half time turnaround following SS4, Procter held sway by 44 seconds.

Third up was Scotsmen Gordon Morrison/Calum MacPherson (Subaru) ahead of the Ford Escorts of Darlington duo Paul and Russ Swift, Rob Snowden/Mark Fisher and Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt.

That was pretty much the order for the remainder of the event. The lead gap increased to 50 seconds on SS5 before Smith valiantly equalled Procter on SS6, but it was to no avail as, with darkness falling, Procter upped the pace again to stamp his authority on proceedings.

Smith finished second ahead of Morrison, with Swift fourth. A late charging Peter Stephenson from Thirsk with Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress (Subaru) came home in fifth.

Class One was won by Richmond brothers Mark and Andrew Constantine (Vauxhall Corsa), Des Campbell/Craig Forsyth (Peugeot 206) took Class Two, and in Class Three, Durham’s Edward Todd and Andy Brown (GTM Coupe) took the win. Swift won Class Four with Stephenson doing likewise in Class Five.