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After last year's inaugural sponsorship of the event, local specialist motorsport PR company, Cartersport, have once again teamed up with Darlington and District Motor Club for the Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally which will take place at Croft Circuit on Sunday 17th January 2010.The event will again comprise up to eight stages totalling around 36 stage miles on the ribbon-smooth tarmac of the North East's only permanent racetrack and will be a qualifying round of The North of England Rally Championship 2010, SG Petch/ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, Borders Stage Rally Championship 2010 and ANCC Stage Rally Championship 2010.

The event has gained in popularity over the years and usually attracts a capacity ninety-car entry, including some of the top drivers in the UK. Scotch Corner preparation expert Tony Bardy holds the record of three wins from 2004 to 2006 and prior to that, Scotland's John Bogie took a double victory in his MG Metro 6R4. However, more recently, Yorkshireman Chris Wise has taken the honours in his MG Metro 6R4 (2007 and 2008) but last year, maverick Cumbrian World Superbike team owner Paul Bird claimed victory in his Subaru WRC S9.

In addition to providing many services within the motorsport industry, Northallerton-based Cartersport look after the PR and publicity work for Croft Circuit meaning the association is once again mutually beneficial, especially in light of the High Court Injunction against the circuit earlier this year following complaints by three local residents, according to Managing Director, Larry Carter:

"This is a fantastic event at a great, historic and much-needed motorsport facility in our region and it's vital as many people as possible give Croft Circuit their support at this time. As such, we are delighted to have been invited back by Darlington & DMC and to be again sponsoring the Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally. I aim to be competing myself as it's always a great event which is now firmly established on the calendar in January."

Secretary of the Meeting, Terry Wright commented: "Obviously running on the smooth tarmac surface of Croft means it can often live up to its name with a white coating greeting the early runners however DDMC always tries to provide an enjoyable event and we think we have a couple of new layouts to test competitors. In addition, our aim is to keep the stage layout open enough for the less powerful cars to carry speed whilst slowing the larger vehicles. We usually end up with a good mix of four and two-wheel drive cars in the top ten."

Scrutineering and Documentation take place the same day as the event which gets underway with the first car at 09.15 and there are classes for cars up to 1400cc, up to 1600cc, up to 2000cc, up to 2400cc and over 2400cc as well as pre-1976 classic rally cars. The entry fee is £190, which is the same as 2009, and the final closing date is 4th January 2010, although competitors are advised to enter early to avoid disappointment. Regulations and entry forms are now available at www.darlington-motor-club.org.uk