LESS than a week after the gruelling four-day marathon of the Roger Albert Clark Rally, Morton on Swale rally driver Charlie Taylor was back behind the wheel of his venerable Ford Escort Mk II when he and Pickering co-driver Steve Bielby contested the Premier Rally, based in Nottinghamshire.

For the opening five stages in and around Sherwood Forest, Taylor traded the lead with local drivers Richard Lane and Richard Hill in similar cars as only seconds separated them but in the end, Hill ran out the winner with Taylor having to settle for runner-up spot in the Historic section of the event.

Another fine performance came in the Open rally from Finghall driver Errol Bairstow who, along with co-driver Matt Wood, brought their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI home in a creditable ninth position overall after the 45 miles of stages.

Meanwhile, Pickhill co-driver Mick Johnson was also in action on the recent Roger Albert Clark rally, when he contested the event with Boroughbridge driver Tommy Hewick.

In their TJ Motors-backed and full historic specification Ford Escort MkII, the pair did not get off to a good start when they crashed in Langdale Forest on the Friday night but only sustained minor damage.

With a great run around Oliver’s Mount on the Saturday, which saw them set sixth fastest time overall, their bad luck returned later that night when a rotor arm failed in Kielder Forests meaning the crew spent five minutes in stage, locating and repairing the problem.

A visit to a Scottish ditch notwithstanding, the pair eventually made the Carlisle finish in a battling 28th overall and 16th in class.

ULSTERMAN Kris Meeke capped his title-winning season with victory in the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge season in Scotland last weekend.

The Peugeot UK driver was embroiled in a heated battle with the Skoda Fabia of County Durham’s Guy Wilks throughout the event, but made the key move on the final stage of day one, when he posted a time 15 seconds quicker than his rival to take a lead of just over 20 seconds in the final day of the event.

While Wilks, from Heighington, then went quickest on Saturday’s opening stage, Meeke responded by setting fastest times on SS9 and SS10 to extend his advantage to 27.9 secs before the return to service with just three stages left in the battle between the pair.

Wilks responded on SS11 as Meeke suffered a brief scare with a spin and then went quickest again on SS12 to bring the gap down to 20.7 secs heading into the final stage of the event.

The 33km run through Loch Ard had been expected to provide a sting in the tail for crews and it proved to be the case for David Bogie, who had gone into the test lying fifth at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Lancer.

Unfortunately for the Scottish Rally champion, he rolled out of the event on the final test with his car coming to rest across the road and blocking the stage for the cars behind.

As a result, the stage was cancelled and the field awarded notional times, which handed Meeke his fifth win of the season.

Wilks had to settle for second place on his debut with the Fabia, while Alister McRae picked up the final place on the podium at the wheel of his Proton Satria Neo.

DESPITE the enforced date change, Northallerton Automobile Club has filled more than half of the places available for the Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally at Croft Circuit.

Already entered are a number of leading local competitors including top autograss racer, Martyn Tinker from Catterick, in a Lotus Exige, Jonny Bean from Northallerton in his BMW and Stockton driver Keith Davison, along with Ripon co-driver Henry Richardson in their Darrian T90.

Richmondshire brothers Mark and Andrew Constantine will be in action in their ultra rapid 1400cc Vauxhall Nova whereas the Ford Escorts of Whitby’s Nick Cook, Nigel Keen from West Rounton and Northallerton shopkeeper Darren Grimston will also do battle.

Darlington stunt driver Paul Swift has entered in his Ford Escort as has Norton’s Sally Peacock (Peugeot 106) and Hutton Rudby driver Kevin Liddle in his Subaru.

One interesting entry comes from Pickhill driver Bill Bates who will share their Tanfield Engineering Lotus Exige with daughter Kari Bosworth. Ten years ago, Kari was driving on an event in the Midlands, with Bill as co-driver when they suffered an horrendous accident in their Peugeot 106 which left both seriously injured. Kari sustained two badly broken legs and serious burns, and Bill suffered a broken neck in the accident whereby Kari has just recently had a final operation in relation to her injuries.

Entries from the big guns are still expected with 2008 winners Kevin Procter, from Leeming and Northallerton’s Dave Bellerby allegedly out in a new car whereas runner up last year, Paul Bird from Penrith, has vowed to return at the wheel of his 2009 Ford Focus WRC. Further information is available at www.northallerton-ac.co.uk Two weeks afterwards, the Cartersport Jack Frost Stages takes place at Croft also and Darlington and District Motor Club are also assembling a topquality entry for the event on Sunday, January 17.

Already, the 1600cc class is looking to be ultra competitive with top drivers Chris Platt (Vauxhall Tigra) set to take on Tynesider Kev Monaghan (Vauxhall Corsa) and Scottish lady Carin Logan (Citroen Saxo) whereas early entries in the four-wheel drive class include the Chop Gate pairing John and Mark Gaskin (Subaru) and York duo Chris Myers and Matt Whattam in their Mitsubishi Lancer.

Regulations are available at www.darlington-motor-club.org.uk.