FOR the first time this season, Northallerton driver Paige Bellerby surrendered the lead in the battle for the MSA Supernational Rallycross Championship following the penultimate rounds at Pembrey in South Wales last weekend

Bellerby finished fifth in round seven on Saturday after an engine mounting broke on her Fuchs Titan Race-backed Lotus Exige, and was slowed by a lack of viability in round eight on Sunday that caused a last lap spin and dropped her to seventh meaning she trails Tristan Ovenden by two points going into the final round at Croft next month.

MP Groundworks-sponsored Peugeot 206 campaigner Guy Corner from East Harlsey finished third in round seven to remain in overall podium contention heading to his home event at Croft.

Leeming driver Kevin Procter fought back from air filter and turbo problems in the qualifying stages of round seven to finish fifth, but succumbed to further issues while challenging for a podium finish in round eight and ended up seventh in his Procter’s Luxury Coaches-backed Ford Fiesta.

Mark Watson from Barnard Castle was forced out of the weekend’s proceedings in round seven’s qualifying stages with steering problems on his Mend-A-Hose-backed Citroen Xsara.

In the MSA Junior class, Richmond’s Tom Constantine spun on the opening lap of the final in round seven but fought back to fourth, before suffering from brake problems in the qualifying stages in round eight. He remains third overall in the points, ahead of his cousin James Constantine from Dalton-on-Tees.

Swift Sport Rallycross Championship leader Simon Ovenden (Canterbury) ended Cleasby driver Rob Shield’s recent run of wins with back-to-back victories at Pembrey to extend his margin at the head of the standings. Ovenden led the final from the front in both round seven and eight, as Shield fought back from an off-track excursion on lap one in round seven to finish second, and repeated the result in round eight to remain in title contention.

In the BMW Mini class, Martin Hawkes from Stockton on Tees retook the points lead in the series from Northallerton teenager Drew Bellerby with a brace of maximum scores. Bellerby was ruled out of Saturday’s action due to damage sustained in a collision but bounced back on Sunday where she fended off Teessider Andrew Hawkes for second place.

NORTHALLERTON rising star Ethan Hammerton celebrated his 17th birthday in style with another superb performance at Brands Hatch in Kent last weekend.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, a pair of second places in his Walter Thompson Contractors-backed Citroen Saxo saw him clinch runner-up spot in that series, having finished on the podium 16 times and having four wins out of 18 races.

In the Renault Junior Clio Cup, Ethan had no problems jumping into a different type of car and continued the form shown at the previous round to claim fifth in race one before scoring a podium in race two by claiming third place.

NEWLY-CROWNED BTRDA Champion Stephen Petch is preparing to test himself against the renowned North York Moors forest stages and his local rival Charlie Payne when contesting the Filey-based Trackrod Rally Yorkshire this weekend.

Ford Fiesta WRC driver Petch, from Hamsterley, sealed the BTRDA Gold Star title for the first time earlier this month goes up against Ripon Dairyman Payne has won the event, which runs throughout tomorrow, for the past two years and has his eyes set on a straight hat-trick

The Forest Stages event runs parallel to the Trackrod Historic Cup, for the eye-catching rally cars of yesteryear, which begins this evening and forms the final round of the Mintex MSA British Historic Championship, where another epic battle for supremacy is expected.

In total around 150 vehicles to take to the forests around Pickering to tackle five different stages, with the fast and furious Dalby test being run twice, as it kicks-off proceedings in spectacular fashion, in total darkness tonight. For further information, please visit www.trackrodmotorcub.co.uk

FOLLOWING the exciting Silver Helmet meeting last week, which was the last home meeting of the season for the SG Petch Redcar Bears speedway team, they still have two away meetings to fulfil, both of which have been rained off once.

However, in concluding a successful season, the Bears have clinched fifth place in the league table, which is the highest position for several years whilst spectator attendance has also increased by approximately 20% at the Media Print Arena on South Bank.