Despite the freezing conditions gripping the country and the long-term forecast showing no sign of a quick let up, the organisers of the 2010 Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally to be held at Croft Circuit on Sunday 17th January have confirmed that it's all systems go as far as the event is concerned.
With snow clearing equipment and sufficient manpower set to start work on Tuesday of next week at the North Yorkshire track, coupled with the weather set to warm up over the rally weekend, Darlington & District Motor Club are confident that they will be able to run the event without any problems and as such, have assembled a near capacity entry for the annual event.
Last year's winner Paul Bird and Scottish co driver Kirsty Riddick head the entry list in their works-specification Ford Focus WRC08 and the Penrith driver will be the man to beat, especially after missing the recent Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally.
However, there is the small matter of double winners Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor West in their MG Metro 6R4 who finished runners up on last weekend's ice-bound Christmas Stages so have the advantage of some track time if conditions are similar.
Scotsmen Billy McLelland and Alistair Wylie will be in action in their Mitsubishi, as will former Kall Kwik Rally winner Tony Thompson from nearby Ingleton who makes a rare appearance in his Lancer Evo 9. Yorkshiremen Chris Myers and Matt Whattam will be hoping for better weather in their Mitsubishi and one pairing to look out for are Chop Gate's John and Mark Gaskin who were spectacular on the Christmas Stages in their Subaru.
2009 SG Petch/ANECCC Stage Rally Champions Richard and Edwin Cook from Cumbria once again have won the prize drive in the SGP Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 and other top seeds are Kev Dunn and Fiona Douglas (Subaru), Chris and Katherine Singer (Mitsubishi) and Nick and Heather Stamper (Subaru).
Leading the two-wheel drive brigade is the Barnard Castle pairing of Alistair Hutchinson and St John Dykes in their LPG-powered Renault Clio although they will have their work cut out with the likes of Catterick's Martyn Tinker (Lotus Exige), Ilkley driver Chris Platt (Vauxhall Tigra) and Carlisle's Barry Lindsay (Peugeot 106).
Other drivers to keep an eye on include Darlington stunt driver Paul Swift (Ford Escort), the historic-specification Datsun 240Z of ex circuit manager Brian Morris from Richmond and the road-going Audi A4 of Tyneside rallycrosser Michael Boak who took the car to an amazing 4th overall on the Christmas Stages!
Barnard Castle drivers Mark Thompson (Peugeot 206) and John Bainbridge (Subaru) should be well to the fore, as will Thirsk's Mat Smith (Peugeot 205) and Andy Davison from Stockton in his BMW M3, whilst don't rule out the likes of Ross Hunter (Honda Civic), Keith Fisher (Peugeot 205) or the Subarus of Martin Farrar and Mark McCulloch.
Local motorsport PR company Cartersport are sponsoring the event and proprietor Larry Carter from Northallerton, who finished tenth on the Specsavers Christmas Stages, along with co driver Linda Ashman will also be in action in their MSR Motorsport-prepared Peugeot 206.
83 drivers will take to the start of the event which is a qualifying round of The AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship 2010, SG Petch/ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, Borders Stage Rally Championship 2010 and ANCC Stage Rally Championship 2010.
The first car starts at 09.05 and the event comprises eight stages totalling around forty miles throughout the day, including at least one in total darkness before the prize presentation at Croft around 6pm.Gates open at 8am and admission is £8.00 per adult with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted FREE. There are catering and toilet facilities and further details and the full entry list can be found at darlington-motor-club.org.uk and follow the Jack Frost dropdown.
Top Ten
1 Paul Bird/Kirsty Riddick (Ford Focus WRC08)2 Chris Wise/Tracey Taylor-West (MG Metro 6R4)3 Billy McLelland/Alistair White (Mitsubishi Evo)4 Tony Thompson/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)5 Chris Myers/Matt Whattam (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6)6 John Gaskin/Mark Gaskin (Subaru Impreza)7 Richard Cook/Edwin Cook (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)8 Kev Dunn/Fiona Douglas (Subaru Impreza)9 Christopher Singer/Katherine Singer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6)10 Nick Stamper/Heather Stamper (Subaru Impreza)
