THE EIGHT stages of Croft’s annual Jack Frost rally lived up to its name with plenty of thrills and chills on track.

Croft Circuit hosted the Darlington and District Motor Club’s annual Autogas 2000 Jack Frost Stages Rally in association with Cartersport in the first race meeting of 2016.

Seventy cars tackled the track competing across six classes with Guy Smith and Patrick Walsh claiming overall victory in their Ford Focus WRC in an overall time of 0:55:26.

Darlington and Stockton Times: David Goose and Nenah Goose retired their Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800 after stage six in the Autogas 2000 Jack Frost Stages Rally in association with Cartersport at Croft Circuit.

David Goose and Nenah Goose retired their Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800 after stage six.

Ashley Field and Fred Field narrowly missed out on the top step of the podium after completing the stages just 0:00:25 slower than Mr Smith in their Darrien T90 GTR+.

Darlington driver and Top Gear stunt team member, Paul Swift, claimed third overall with his wife and co-driver, Jessica Swift, in their Ford Escort across the 40-stage miles of the rally.

The pair also picked up an additional award for being the first mixed pair across the line.

Mr Swift took to social media to celebrate his drive and said: “Cracking days rallying on the Jack Frost Stages. We finished third overall and first mixed crew.

“Thanks to all the team for a great job and Darlington and District Motor Club for running the event.”

Sunday’s (January 17) meeting was the fourth round of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship in association with MSVR.

The rally also including qualifying rounds of the AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship, Fuchs Titan Race ANCC Stage Rally Championship and the SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship.