THERE was plenty to celebrate for local drivers who made the trip to Cadwell Park, in Lincolnshire, last weekend to contest round two of the Motorsport News MSVR Circuit Rally Championship.

Taking a hard-fought overall victory was Stokesley’s Ian Woodhouse and Hutton Rudby co-driver Paul Rowland, who overcame the slippery conditions and extensive delays on the North Humberside Motor Club-organised event to win in their 2.5-litre Millington-powered Skylark Racing Ford Escort Mk2.

Chasing them home in second place overall were Darlington husband and wife Paul and Jessica Swift, who overcame a couple of electrical problems in their Smith and Allan-sponsored car, identical to that of Woodhouse and also prepared by Northallerton tuner Jimmy Bean, of JBM Sport.

After dropping some time on the opening two stages, Swift and Woodhouse could hardly be separated for the remaining stages as they battled it out for the lead and sensationally saw off the strong four-wheel drive contingent in their historic two-wheel drive Fords.

Eventually, as darkness fell and after the final stage had inexplicably been cancelled after most competitors had been through, Woodhouse held an advantage of 21 seconds over Swift.

The result also means that both drivers go into next weekend’s third round at Rockingham heading the title race, with Woodhouse leading overall and Swift in second place and also well-placed in the class tables.

More silverware returned to the region in the shape of former Cadwell Park winners Graeme Bell and Russ Radford, who brought their Millington-powered MEM Proton Neo Satria home in eighth overall. The Twin Services and Clarion Homes-sponsored pair from Northallerton also took second in class after they too suffered from a minor electrical problem.

Another Stokesley pair were among the trophies when Mark and John Burton brought their 1600cc Ford Fiesta XR2 home in 17th overall to take a superb class win, while Northallerton’s Georgina Smith guided Larry Carter’s Yorkshire Van Lease and Design Bifolds-backed Peugeot 206 home in 27th overall and fourth in class.

Despite a promising run on the opening stage, the Saltburn pair of Ian and Nick Colman retired their Nissan Sunny GTi-R on SS2 with cooling problems. Lasting one stage more were Hamsterley farmer David Coatsworth and co-driver Tom Bruce, from Newton Aycliffe, in only their second event of the year. Leading their class after SS2 in their MG ZR, they suffered gearbox problems on the third stage and had to retire.

But perhaps the most bizarre retirement befell the D&J Installations-backed Peugeot 205 of Leeming Bar driver Dave Johnston and Pickhill co-driver Bruce "Chonka" Lindsay. The pair had a good run through the opening stages, but on arrival at SS3, another competitor managed to reverse into them in the start queue, causing irreparable damage to the radiator.

THERE is plenty of action on both tarmac and gravel this weekend as two major events take place involving a number of local crews.

The annual Grizedale Stages, based at Coniston in the Lake District, is held tomorrow, while the Hall Trophy Rally will be run at Blyton Park, in Lincolnshire, and both rallies feature full entries.

Heading the Grizedale Stages entry list is the WD-40-backed Ford Fiesta R5+ of Hamsterley’s Stephen Petch and Crook co-driver Michael Wilkinson, who will be out for victory to make up for the disappointment of missing out on the BTRDA title again this season.

The second SGP Motorsport Ford Fiesta S2000, backed by SG Petch 4x4 Specialists, will be driven by Scorton’s Steve Petch, with Exelby co-driver John Richardson on the notes as usual, while Ingleton brothers Dan and Matt Thompson aim to continue their meteoric progression in the sport in their Subaru Impreza.

Brompton retailer Darren Grimston will be in action in his recently-acquired Electrocare and NTB-backed Honda Civic, along with West Tanfield-born co-driver Richard Ross, while Heighington’s Mike Williams and Bishop Auckland co-driver Steve Perry hope for a good run in their SGP Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer.

Boroughbridge driver Graham Haigh and Pickhill co-driver Kari Bates have entered in their Ford Escort Mk2, while Faceby driver Alun Pearson and co-driver Simon Brook make a rare appearance in their N Sign-sponsored Peugeot 205. Also making the trip across to Cumbria is the Regent Roofing-supported 1300cc Morris Mini of Darlington’s Peter Ellerby, co-driven by Hartburn’s Ian Jackson.

Meanwhile, the rally at Blyton, near Gainsborough, will be a second event in as many weeks for the Northallerton pair of Graeme Bell and Russ Radford (MEM Proton), while Brompton-on-Swale driver Geoff Wright hopes to have his newly-acquired and Booth Construction-backed Ford Fiesta S2000 fettled in time to take to the start with co-driver Chris Sanderson.

Mickleton father and son Alistair and Joe Hutchinson hope to improve on their lowly seeding in their LPG-powered Renault Clio, while Pickhill engineer Bruce Lindsay will accompany Michael Farmer in their 1600cc Ford Focus.

Swapping seats for this event are Guisborough duo Dave Hornbrook and Matthew Sample in their Subaru. Top runner Hornbrook will be on the maps for a change as Sample claims the driver’s seat for his first event.