TWO of the region’s rallying legends will see their generosity come to fruition on Sunday’s Autogas 2000 Jack Frost Stages Rally in association with Cartersport which takes place at Croft Circuit.

County Durham motor dealer Steve Petch and Yorkshire potato farmer Steve Bannister put up prizes for the winners of the 2014 SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship which came to a conclusion with the recent Swift Signs Christmas Stages Rally which also took place at Croft.

The end result is that Cumbrian Barry Lindsay gets to drive the SGP Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 on Sunday’s rally, where he’ll be co driven by former works SEAT ace John Richardson from Exelby, who normally sits alongside former National champion Petch. The entry will have the full support of the professional SGP Team who is based in Darlington.

Winning the co-driver’s title was Michael Lindsay; Barry’s father who gets a run out with one of Britain’s rallying greats in the shape of Steve Bannister. Known to rally fans worldwide as simply ‘Banner’, Steve’s familiar RSD-prepared Ford Escort Mk2 is usually seen winning events in the local forests and indeed has won the RAC Rally four times.

The Lindsays usually compete in a 1600cc Peugeot 106 so the experience of Barry driving a four wheel drive turbocharged car and the characteristics of a tail happy 250bhp rear wheel drive Escort in which Michael will compete will be an interesting sub-plot on the Darlington and District Motor Club-organised event.

Having filled up a week before closing date, the event will see a capacity 90 cars take to the start line including a top ten which would grace a National Championship event.

Three-times winners and event sponsors, Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor-West from Pickhill will be again in action in their iconic MG Metro 6R4 and are seeded at number one where they will be chased by one of Britain’s emerging talents, Arron Newby. The Lancashire teenager won the Manx Rally Championship for a second year is succession in 2014 and starts as one of the favourites in his Subaru Impreza.

Starting at number three is runner-up in the 2014 MSA Asphalt Championship John Stone from Blackburn who plans on giving his unique Skoda Fabia WRC a run out in readiness for his assault on the title this year. After finishing second at the recent Christmas Stages, Midland driver David White is away at number four along with co driver Edward Pikul in his Subaru with another MG Metro 6R4 in the hands of Peter Smith, who finished third on the Christmas Stages seeded at five.

Teesside businessman Peter Stephenson hopes to overcome the disappointment of a last stage retirement last time out and missing out on the ANECCC title as a result and starts at number six in his MGZR with Northallerton’s Ian Windress on the notes. Darlington precision driver Paul Swift and wife-to-be Jessica Bell the first of the two-wheel drive competitors in their recently rebuilt Millington-engined Ford Escort Mk2 at number seven with number eight seeing Scotsman Stuart Baillie and co driver Alan Cowan in their mighty 2.5 litre Subaru.

Northallerton pairing Graeme Bell and Russ Radford are seeded at number nine and expect to be challenging Swift for top two-wheel drive honours in their 2.5 litre Ford Escort whilst fending off the number ten seeds of James Sharrock and Stuart Faulds in their powerful Ford Escort Mk 2.

Incorporating a number of qualifying rounds for local and regional championships, gates open at 8am with the first car starting at 9.15. Once again, a huge crowd is expected so the organisers and circuit have made available as much hard standing parking as possible. There is commentary, catering and an opportunity to visit the service area as well as numerous vantage points around the various stage routes. Admission is £10 per adult with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free. Car parking and service area admission is also free.

ANY budding racing drivers can take the first step to stardom as Croft Circuit is hosting an ARDS (Association of Race Driving Schools) test on Wednesday 18th February.

The course is part of the pre-requisite licence application process and upon successful completion and the necessary medical compliance, all prospective competitors can apply for a National B licence to start racing. After applying to the MSA for a ‘Go Racing’ starter pack which includes various information including a licence application form and had the medical content completed, the next step is to book an ARDS course such as what Croft is offering.

The test then consists of a classroom briefing from qualified and experienced racing drivers, a driving test both as passenger and as a driver for a minimum of five laps around the full international circuit to evaluate your capability to hold a race licence. Two multiple choice papers complete the course and providing each driver gets within a set percentage of the required pass rate, they are given the necessary documentation in order to apply for a licence.

The course costs £285 and takes around two hours and is available by calling 01325 721815. Drivers must hold a full road licence and must wear clothes that cover their arms and legs. Helmets, race boots and gloves are provided and spectators are welcome free of charge.

Croft also runs the Junior ARDS course for 14 to 16 year olds and for more information please visit the website at www.croftcircuit.co.uk.