With just two weeks to go until Darlington and District Motor Club's annual Autogas 2000 Jack Frost Stages Rally in association with Cartersport at Croft Circuit on Sunday January 18, the star-studded entry list is virtually full with just a handful of places remaining.

So far, around 80 crews have committed to the event and amongst those entered are a number of top British drivers as well as a very healthy local contingent to do battle over the eight stages totalling around 40 stage miles on the tarmac of the North East's premier race track.

Double Manx Rally champion Arron Newby is bringing his powerful Subaru Impreza over from his Carnforth base and has to be one of the favourites for honours but he'll face stiff competition from the Skoda Fabia WRC of 2014 REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship runner-up and fellow Lancastrian John Stone.

Leading the local bid for honours is three-times winners and event sponsors, Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor-West who will be again in action in their iconic MG Metro 6R4. Fellow Yorkshireman Peter Smith will also be at the wheel of a 6R4 having finished third at the recent Swift Signs Christmas Stages Rally at Croft.

Teesside businessman Peter Stephenson will once again be in action in his mighty MG ZR whereas Darlington precision driver Paul Swift and Northallerton's Graeme Bell will by vying for two wheel drive honours in their respective Ford Escorts.

A very interesting entry has come from Yorkshire forest rallying legend Steve Bannister who is out to play in his recently rebuilt Ford Escort and also expected to perform well is the Ford Fiesta R5 of Russell Morgan, whose son Adam won a BTCC race last year.

With a couple of other star names still expected to appear on the list before it officially closes on Friday, it's set to be one of the strongest fields in recent years for the popular event.

Incorporating qualifying rounds of the AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship 2015, Fuchs Titan Race ANCC Stage Rally Championship 2015 and the SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship 2015, the awards for the 2014 SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship will be presented on the Sunday evening at Croft after the prize-giving ceremony for the rally.

Scrutineering and documentation take place the same day as the event from 06:00 with the first car starting at 09.15. There are classes for cars up to 1400cc, up to 1600cc, up to 2000cc, over 2000cc and all four wheel-drive cars as well as pre-1981 classic rally cars. The entry fee is £225 and the final closing date is today.

For further information, please contact Terry Wright on 01325 359895 (before 21.00), or via email at tp.wright@btinternet.com. Regulations and entry forms are available at www.darlington-motor-club.org.uk.