A FEATURE of winning the ANECCC SG Petch Stage Rally Championship is the very generous prize provided by the series sponsor and local motor dealer Steve Petch, with the winners given the opportunity to drive a state-of-the-art Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 rally car prepared by Darlington-based SGP Motorsport on an event.

It is a unique prize in British club rallying and Carlisle brothers Barry and Michael Lindsay have benefitted for the past couple of years, but this year it has been fiercely contested between rallying legend Steve Bannister and Peugeot 205 driver Ben Cree, from Thirlby, near Thirsk.

Affectionately known as Banner in rallying circles, the Malton Ford Escort Mk2 driver eventually took the crown with five victories, leaving Cree as runner-up.

However, recognising Cree’s emerging talent, Bannister has decided to forfeit the prize drive in favour of his younger rival and the magnanimous gesture will see Cree and County Durham co-driver Andy Brown contest the Jack Frost Stages Rally at Croft Circuit on Sunday, January 15.

Cree, 30, said: “I rang Steve Bannister to thank him as it’s a wonderful gesture. It will be my first time driving a two-litre, four-wheel drive, turbocharged car and totally different to the little 1600cc Peugeot 205 I’m used to. Steve and my dad, Terry, go back a long way, so both will be keeping an eye on my progress I suspect. We have a test in the car early next month and then see what the weather has in store for us as it could get a bit lively. Thanks also to Steve Petch and SGP Motorsport for this fantastic opportunity.”

Regulations are out for the Darlington and District Motor Club-organised event, which is a round of a number of regional championships. Entries are filling fast and will close on January 6. Details are available at www.darlington-motor-club.org.uk.

AFTER competing in 30 events in 2016, Northallerton enduro rider Robbie Wallace has spent the year establishing himself in the expert class in three Northern Championships, as well as the British Enduro Championship.

Aboard the Motoconnection and Putoline-sponsored Husqvarna 300, Wallace finished fifth expert in the Rock Oils Northern Championship, with a best result of third in the eighth round. In the Northern England Endurotec Cross-Country Championship, he also finished fifth expert overall, with a best result of fourth place. In the Putoline Oils North of England Enduro Championship, he finished third expert, with a best result of third place.

In the British Enduro Championship, Wallace was riding in the clubman class, finishing third in class E3 (for machines over 250cc) after nine rounds. Throughout the year, he only had two non-finishes. One was at Great Ayton after a crash left him concussed and he had to retire and the other was in the final British Championship round at Thetford, where he crashed and the bike landed on a tree stump, flattening the exhaust and bursting the radiator.

LOCAL housebuilders Harron Homes will sponsor the current Renault UK Clio Cup Graduate champion Max Coates as he targets overall championship success with Ciceley Motorsport in 2017.

The 22-year-old from Scorton made his series debut last season, finishing third overall in his and Ciceley Motorsport’s debut season in the UK Clio Cup. He challenged the established front-runners on a regular basis with seven visits to the podium, including a maiden win at his home circuit of Croft.

He sent an early warning to his rivals with pole position in round two of the championship at Donington Park, which he backed up with his first podium two events later. He then finished on the podium at every race meeting during the remainder of the year and was the only driver to finish every race inside the top 10.

He also became the Graduate Cup champion, for new drivers aged under 23, having taken 11 class wins. His results were recognised by the British Racing Drivers Club, who gave him "Rising Star" status.

Coates said: “I am so happy to be announcing my 2017 racing plans this early as a result of new and continued sponsorship. I have enjoyed a fantastic year in the Renault UK Clio Cup, both on and off the track, and I am looking forward to being back with the Ciceley Motorsport team, who have been awesome this year. The experience gained, a continued driver/team relationship and an increased budget thanks to Harron Homes, Primex Plastics and PLASgran Recycling puts us in a very good position to fight for the title in 2017 and that is our aim.”

REDCAR Bears speedway promoter Brian Havelock, who has held the position for the past eight years and been in motorcycle sport for 40 years, has decided to step down for next season.

He will be replaced by Kevin Keays, who has just retired from the police force and has been responsible for the Redcar Cubs in the Northern Junior League in recent years. Jitendra Duffill will continue as team manager with expanded responsibility.

The Speedway Control Board has made quite a few changes to the format for the three speedway leagues in 2017. The main change is to the Premier League, in which the Bears race, which will be called the Championship, and there will be slight amendments to the points systems for the league.

Riders leaving the Redcar club include Lasse Bjerre, who has transferred to Sheffield, while Hugh Skidmore has retired and is returning to Australia, as is Jye Etheridge. Frenchman David Bellego has moved to Swindon.

New riders include Jason Garrity, Ben Barker, ex-Bear Charles Wright and Ellis Perks, while Northallerton rider Richard Hall rejoins the Teesside-based club which he last raced for in 2015.

Retained are Danish rider Jonas B Andersen and Tobias Busch, from Germany, who will both commute from their home countries each week.