AFTER a troubled season in the British Rallycross Championship, Barnard Castle hotelier "Mad" Mark Watson saved the best until last when he romped to a sensational victory in the final round of the BTRDA Rallycross Championship at Croft Circuit last Sunday.

Driving the Mend-A-Hose-backed Citroen Xsara, the former Croft champion overcame treacherous conditions of rain and mud at the popular North Yorkshire track to claim the honours in the Clubman’s 4x4 A final after the initial running was red-flagged due to an incident.

Jarrow driver Michael Boak overcame a retirement in the heats to win the SuperModified A final in his Citroen C2, while Ferryhill’s David Bell brought his BMW Mini home in sixth place in the same race.

Earlier, the B final saw Northallerton driver Larry Carter finish fifth in his Suzuki Swift, but Barnard Castle’s Brian Jukes retired his diesel-powered Audi TT. East Harlsey driver Guy Corner retired his MB Groundworks-backed Peugeot 206 after problems in the heats.

Martin Peters, from Ingleby Barwick, made a rare appearance in his Preston Farm MOTs-backed Citroen Saxo and claimed third in the Production A final ahead of Bedale’s Colin Ramsay, who took his Peugeot 205 to sixth place. Middlesbrough driver Jason Bowes took victory in the B final, but retired his Citroen Saxo in the A final. Great Ayton’s Ian Horn ended up third in the B final in his Vauxhall Nova.

Richmond teenager Tom Constantine made up for missing out on the British junior title by winning the class in his CBS-backed Suzuki Swift, with Jarrow’s Laura Boak finishing fourth in her Citroen C2.

In the popular Historic class, Houghton-le-Spring’s Lance Foster ended up second in the A final in his Green and White Spares Mini, two places ahead of Brompton shopkeeper Darren Grimston in his Electrocare-backed Vauxhall Nova. Seaham’s Gary Mitchell burned the midnight oil to replace the engine on his Vauxhall Vectra after problems last time out and was rewarded with seventh place.

In the Historic B final, Great Broughton driver Neil Maynard took his Triumph TR8 to victory before clutch problems relegated him to eighth in the A final, while Northallerton’s Martin Peel took third place on his debut in his Peugeot 205.

Borrowby driver Nick Thornton retired the 1400cc BL Metro after a promising run.

LEEMING ace Kevin Procter was in great form last Saturday when he claimed outright victory in the Neil Howard Memorial Rally at Oulton Park, in Cheshire.

The event comprised the opening round of the Motoring News MSVR Circuit Rally Championship and attracted a very strong field, but Procter, accompanied by Witton Gilbert co-driver Derrick Fawcett, took the win in the Procters Luxury Coaches Ford Fiesta.

Fourth place went to Darlington husband and wife Paul and Jessica Swift, who brought their Smith and Allen-sponsored Ford Escort Mk2 home to a class win, three places ahead of Hutton Rudby pair Ian Woodhouse and Paul Rowland in a similar car, who took second in class.

Bedale’s Joe Cunningham and Northallerton co-driver Marc Fowler started their 1400cc title defence in fine style by claiming a class win and 19th overall in their Swift Signs-backed Vauxhall Corsa. Stokesley’s Mark and John Burton did well to finish 37th overall and fourth in class in their Ford Fiesta XR2, while Leeming Bar driver Dave Johnstone, along with Pickhill co-driver Bruce Lindsey, overcame a catalogue of problems on the Peugeot 205 to finish 41st overall and fifth in class, netting the Spirit of the Rally award for their efforts.

CONCLUDING a very busy weekend of motorsport was the MEM Malton Rally, which took place in the forests around Pickering and saw a victory for Ripon’s Charlie Payne.

Driving the Simpson Safety Products Ford Fiesta he took to the BTRDA Rally title this year, he and Welsh co-driver Carl Williamson edged out the SGP Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5+ of Hamsterley driver Stephen Petch and Crook co-driver Michael Wilkinson by just over half a minute after the County Durham duo had struggled with a misfire all day.

Rounding off the podium was Kepwick’s Peter Stephenson and Barnard Castle co-driver Giles Dykes, who took the ABLE UK-backed Ford Focus WRC to third place overall, a further minute down on Petch.

Sixth place went to the WD-40-sponsored Ford Fiesta S2000 of Scorton driver Steve Petch, with Exelby’s John Richardson on the notes as usual, while ninth overall was the Ford Escort Mk1 of Whitby duo Nick Cook and Dave Raw, who also took a class win.

Twelfth overall and second in class went to York’s Stuart Boyes, who had Thirsk’s Mat Smith on the maps in their Ford Escort Mk2, while Ingleton brothers Dan and Matt Thompson had a great run in their Subaru to take 13th place, just ahead of Guisborough’s Mike Scrimgour, who was co-driving for Andy Gibson in their Ford Escort Mk2.

Boroughbridge driver Tom Hewick, co-driven by Pickhill’s Mick Johnson, claimed 16th overall and fourth in class in the Ford Escort, while Alistair Hutchinson, from Mickleton, and Staindrop co-driver St John Dykes had a rare forest outing in their LPG-powered Renault Clio to end up 23rd overall and fourth in class.

Thirlby’s Ben Cree and Durham co-driver Andy Brown won their class in their Terry Cree Motorsport-prepared Peugeot 205 en route to 27th overall in the treacherous conditions, with Pickhill navigator Bruce Lindsey having a busy weekend as he and Jan Budge took 34th overall in their Subaru.

Making a welcome return was Thirkleby caravan site owner Rob Herrington, who was 36th overall in the Subaru he was sharing with Thirsk co-driver Charlotte Wainwright, while the Ford Escort Mk2 of Boroughbridge’s Graham Haigh and Pickhill co-driver Kari Bates was 41st overall and ninth in class. South Kilvington driver Nick Kitchen had a day of problems in the Ford RS2000 he was sharing with Andrew Trollope, but ended up 56th overall and 15th in class.

SS2 claimed the popular Fiat 131 of Ripon ace Matthew Robinson and co-driver Sam Collis, while Thirsk driver Amanda Cornforth Smith, with her dad Derek on the maps, slid off the road on the same stage in the F&D Cornforth-backed Ford Ka. Stage five saw the demise of Heighington driver Mike Williams and Bishop Auckland co-driver Steve Perry with transmission problems in their DGP Motorsport Mitsubishi, while Potto’s Keith Davison and Ripon co-driver Henry Richardson went off in their Hillman Avenger.