LAST weekend saw another packed schedule for the region’s rally crews as they contested the various events up and down the country with some reasonable success but a couple of hard luck stories along the way also.

The annual Coppermines Grizedale Stages Rally took place in the Lake District last Saturday with half a dozen local crews venturing over to Coniston for the popular event. Hoping to continue their winning streak was Hamsterley driver Stephen Petch and Crook co-driver Michael Wilkinson but from the start, they suffered a misfire on their SGP Motorsport Ford Fiesta which couldn’t be fixed until service after the fourth stage.

By then, with only two stages remaining, it was too late to challenge for outright victory but with fastest time on SS5, they climbed the leaderboard only to lose third gear on the final test meaning they finished in fourth overall, but just five seconds down on the crew in second place such was the intensity of competition.

Ripon farmer Charlie Payne and Newcastle co-driver Andrew Roughead also endured problems to bring their Ford Fiesta home in seventh overall, two places ahead of Teesside businessman Peter Stephenson and Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress in their ABLE UK-backed Ford Focus WRC.

In only his second outing in his newly acquired 1400cc Proton Satria, Thirsk’s Mat Smith along with Barnard Castle co-driver Giles Dykes claimed a superb class win en route to 14th overall, just ahead of the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of Scorton driver Steve Petch and Exelby co-driver John Richardson, who suffered from a niggling fuel surge problem.

Making a successful weekend was Thirsk goat breeder Amanda Cornforth Smith who, along with dad Derek on the notes, brought their Ford Ka home in 36th overall and third in class.

Sunday’s action saw some more local competitors head for the Hall Trophy Rally at Blyton Park in Lincolnshire whereby the Great Ayton pairing of Ian and Stephen Woodhouse took a superb third place overall in their Ford Escort. After victory the previous weekend at Cadwell Park, Northallerton’s Graeme Bell and co-driver Russ Radford could only manage seventh overall in their Ford RS2500 while Guisborough driver Dave Hornbrook and co-driver Ann Forster finished 11th overall in their Mitsubishi.

Saltburn duo Ian and Nick Colman claimed 14th overall in their Nissan Sunny while the Durham pairing of Neil Marshall and Steve Perry brought their Peugeot 205 home in 21st overall and third in class.

Down in Sherwood Forest, Topcliffe driver Nick Kitching took the RS2000 he was sharing with Ben Clarke to 18th overall and third in class on the SA Gas Premier Stages Rally but for double BTRDA Champion Matt Robinson, he retired his Ford Escort late on.

THE annual Roger Albert Clark Rally gets underway in Sunderland on Friday as once again, crews get ready to embark on a three-day marathon in historic cars which heralds a throwback to the halcyon days of the Lombard RAC Rally a couple of decades ago.

With the rally start, finish and HQ all based in Sunderland, the route will make extensive use of the Kielder forest complex this weekend and will take in several stages that are completely new to the event in a total competitive route of around 190 stage miles.

Herrington Country Park in Sunderland will see the cars in action both Friday night (18.31 and 21.53) and Saturday morning (08.23) and Hamsterley Forest will host the action during the opening leg too on Friday at 20.14 and Saturday at 11.49.

Croft Circuit, near Darlington, will host the major spectator stage of the event where crews tackle two stages on Saturday morning. As well as the action on track, Croft will host a major service area after the crews tackle two stages around the race track at 09.54 and 10.09.

Friday night always provides drama and around a third of Saturday’s 90 stage miles will run in darkness in a route that heads as far west as the Kershope and Ash Park stages. The 14-hour day promises to be a mighty test of man and machine. Sunday’s action centres on the main Kielder complex with another 70 competitive miles before the finish back in Sunderland. The event’s traditional sting in the tail will be 26 stage miles over the concluding two tests in Falstone and Harwood.

Spectators are well catered for on the event with virtually all stages allowing access. The Herrington Country Park stage is free of charge with access to all other forest stages costing £10 per car. Admission to the Croft stages and Service Area costs £10 per person with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free. There will be catering, merchandise stands and commentary at Croft.

Local ace Matthew Robinson is one of the favourites in his Ford Escort where the Ripon driver will be looking to take outright victory after crashing out while battling for the lead last year. Northallerton’s Charlie Taylor and co-driver John Richardson will be in action in their Ford Escort alongside National and World Champions such as Belgian Gregiore de Mevious (Porsche 911), Steve Perez (Lancia Stratos), Julian Reynolds (Fiat 131 Abarth) and Nick Elliott (Ford Escort).

Around 70 crews will start the event and for further information, visit www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org.