BEDALE rally driver Tommi Graham laid to rest the ghosts of last year with a superb top 20 finish on last weekend’s Beatson’s Mull Rally, where he and co-driver Mike Bailey were contesting the annual event in their Mitsubishi Lancer.

The pair crashed out heavily last year, wrecking the car, but there were no such problems for the R&S Motors of Leyburn-backed crew on the three-day event on the remote Scottish island as they reached the finish ramp in the early hours of Sunday morning in a fine 16th place overall.

Also conquering the tortuous island lanes were Richmond brothers Mark and Andrew Constantine, who were making the annual pilgrimage in their 1600cc CBS and Victoria Garage-supported Vauxhall Corsa. A great run through Friday night and Saturday afternoon was followed with a late push into the night to end up 19th overall and second in class.

Northallerton’s John Tillett drove a superb rally to bring the BMF-sponsored Ford Escort Mk2 he was sharing with Andrew Tolson home in 57th overall and 17th in class, but the tough event claimed four of the region’s crews, including a couple of fancied runners.

Scotch Corner engineer Tony Bardy and Mickleton co-driver Tony Walker retired their TBE-backed Ford Focus WRC on only the third stage on Friday night, while Bishop Auckland’s Tristan Pye and co-driver Andrew Falconer also hit problems during the opening leg. They eventually proved terminal and they were unable to start Saturday’s stages in their JPM-prepared Subaru Impreza.

Also not seeing the Tobermory finish were Easingwold driver Pat Johnson and co-driver Sam Spencer, who crashed their Opel Kadett GTE on Saturday afternoon, while Durham’s Pete Gibson and co-driver Chris Dodds went off in their Mitsubishi Lancer with only one stage remaining on the Saturday night.

CROFT Circuit is gearing up for an action-packed weekend of high-octane horsepower and thrills as the MSA British Rallycross Championship storms into North Yorkshire for both its eagerly-anticipated season finale and the winner-takes-all Procters Coaches MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix.

There are some 70 entries on each day, including more than 20 local favourites, as the country’s finest exponents of the sport prepare to battle it out for the final honours of 2016 tomorrow, ahead of a tantalising tussle for the coveted GP trophy on Sunday.

In the headlining MSA Supercar class for flame-spitting, 600bhp behemoths, the destiny of the laurels has already been decided in favour of West Country teenager Dan Rooke, who is the youngest-ever British Rallycross champion at just 19. But there is a fierce fight for the runner-up spoils between outgoing title-holder Julian Godfrey, from Kent, Northallerton's Dave Bellerby in his Fuchs-sponsored Ford Fiesta and European Championship regular Ollie O’Donovan, from Ireland.

Others to watch in the Supercar category will be Bellerby’s brother-in-law Kevin Procter, who lives at Leeming Bar and is chasing his third victory of the year in his rapid Procters Luxury Coaches-backed Ford Fiesta, and Barnard Castle hotelier ‘Mad’ Mark Watson, who is again behind the wheel of his distinctive Mend-A-Hose-supported Citroën Xsara T16.

Bellerby’s two daughters are also competing, with elder sibling Paige chasing the crown at MSA Supernational level in her powerful Sayers Road Tankers-backed Lotus Exige, while teenage sister Drew contests the competitive one-make Swift Sport series, in which she has impressed in her debut season in her Fuchs Titan Race-sponsored car.

Keeping it firmly in the family is Procter’s nephew Joe Cunningham, from Bedale, who further swells the MSA Supernational ranks as he makes his return to the sport in a www.coach2.com and Swift Signs-assisted Vauxhall VX220.

East Harlsey’s Guy Corner is another local in the hunt for MSA Supernational success in his MP Groundworks-supported Peugeot 206, with Tom Constantine, from Richmond, just six points shy of the top of the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship table in his CBS-backed 1400cc Suzuki Swift.

Supercars aside, the majority of other titles are still to be settled, meaning very little quarter is likely to be given around Croft’s challenging rallycross layout.

Ripon brothers Kris and Keifer Hudson are the leading lights in the BMW Mini Championship, a class that also features Stockton father and daughter Martin and Jennie Hawkes, as well as Ferryhill’s David Bell and Boroughbridge driver Franke Helliwell. Teessider Andrew Hawkes is expected to show well in the Suzuki Swift Sport series.

The MSA Supernational class is bolstered by Barnard Castle’s Brian Jukes (Audi TT), Brompton shopkeeper Darren Grimston (Vauxhall Nova), who also contests the Retro GP on Sunday, and Durham’s Gary Mitchell in his unique Vauxhall Vectra.

In the Swift Sport Championship, a couple of local drivers will make their debut in the sport at Croft this weekend.

Although no stranger to a one-make championship, it’s a change of pace for Ginetta GT4 Supercup driver Fraser Robertson, from Brompton-on-Swale. Having just completed his 2016 season in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup, finishing fourth overall, The Van Centre proprietor swaps his 355bhp 3.7 V6 Ginetta G55 GT4 for the modest 1.6 front-wheel drive Suzuki Swift Sport as he takes advantage of Swift Championship organisers Peter Gwynne Motorsport’s "Arrive and Drive" hire packages.

Joining Robertson is fellow local motorsport competitor Paul Prest, from Northallerton. Currently competing in the BriSCA Formula 2 Stock Car Championship, Prest is familiar with close contact competition and jumped at the chance to try rallycross.

Stewart Bowes, from Stokesley, will be keen to cap a sparkling campaign with GP glory in the evocative Retro Rallycross category. He will be joined by sons Jordan, who races in the same class, and Jason, making his British Rallycross debut in the Hot Hatch field. Great Broughton father and son Terry and Neil Maynard will also be in action in their mighty Triumph TR8s.

Adult admission tickets priced at £15 per day or £20 for the weekend are available at the gate. Accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free of charge and all parking, as well as paddock access, is also free. Gates open at 8.30am on both days, with on-track activity starting at 9am. For further information on the event, call 01325 721815 or visit croftcircuit.co.uk.