2013 Championship Dates Announced
The final round of the 2012 Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship takes place this weekend when competitors will do battle on one of the country's most popular events.
The various formats of the Roger Albert Clark Rally will see no less than 30 registered MNHRC competitors converge on Ryedale Exhibition and Leisure Centre in Pickering on Friday for the De Lacy Motor Club annual event and although a few titles have already been decided, there's still a lot to play for in the testing Yorkshire stages.
Most competitors are contesting the three-day Roger Albert Clark Rally with a couple opting for the supporting Peregrine Print Rally which comprises the first half of the event.
2012 Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Champion Steve Bannister, who clinched the title on the Malton Forest Rally earlier this month, has been labelled the pre-event favourite for this year's event and is seeded number two in his Ford Escort Mk2, with Kevin Rae alongside as the Malton driver bids to add to his 2007 victory.
Runner-up in this year's MNHRC, Northallerton's Charlie Taylor, is also an RAC regular who goes well and along with Pickering co-driver Steve Bielby, the pair are hoping to get revenge on Bannister after being pipped to their respective titles and will be in action in their Class D5 Ford Escort.
The battle for third overall in both Drivers and Co-drivers Championships is still up for grabs as current occupants, Chris Blake from West Rounton and Barnard Castle co-driver Tony Walker are not entered meaning at least three rivals can pip them. Bernard Nolan (Hull) and Kari Bosworth (Thirsk), Steve Magson/Geoff Atkinson (Pickering) and York's Ian Hildreth/Stephen Stead are all handily placed meaning a good result could elevate them up the order.
First and second has been decided in all Categories with Terry Cree and Richard Shores (Mini Cooper S) winning Category 1 ahead of John Everard and Mark Sharpeley (Alfa Romeo Sprint GT). Category 2 sees Bernard Nolan and Kari Bosworth as champions ahead of fellow Ford Escort Mexico crew Chris Blake and Tony Walker with Category 3 topped by Ian Hildreth and Stephen Stead (Ford Escort Mk2) ahead of Tony Thompson and Paul Hudson's Vauxhall Chevette HSR.
Cree and Shores have also wrapped up Class B2 with Everard and Sharpeley winning Class B3 whilst the Ford Escort RS2000 of Stewart Scott and Mark Casey have claimed Class C3. Hildreth and Stead have won Class D3 ahead of the similar Ford Escort of Paul Fry and Michael Steele whilst in the Ladies class; Louise Sutherland has won it ahead of Kari Bosworth.
With Chris Blake/Tony Walker and Paul/Daniel May being absent, Bernard Nolan/Kari Bosworth should wrap up Class C2 and a similar situation exists in Class D2 with Mike Kent and Miles Cartwright hoping to box things off in their Talbot Sunbeam. Tim Mason and Colin Thompson have a very slim chance of taking Class C4 in their Porsche as the rest of the crews battle it out for the lower leaderboard placings.
Further information is available on the Roger Albert Clark Rally website www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org and for details on the Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship please visit www.motoscope.co.uk/nhrc.htm or contact Mark Casey, Championship Co-ordinator on 07949 899619 or via email coordinator.nhrc@yahoo.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/262173157147560
Meanwhile, dates for the 2013 Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship have been provisionally announced and are as listed below. The Championship Presentation & Dinner is now confirmed as Saturday 26th January 2013 at the Golden Lion Hotel in Northallerton. The organisers are producing the menu list and also some flyers for next year's championship which will be available at this weekend's event.
2013 Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship (provisional, best six scores to count)
26th January 2013 - Championship Presentation & Dinner, the Golden Lion, Northallerton
17th February - Riponian Forest Stages (Gravel)
2nd March - Malcolm Wilson Rally (Gravel)
23rd March - Border Counties Rally (Gravel)
28th April - Tour Of Hamsterley (Gravel)
4/5th May - Pirelli Historic Rally (Gravel) (MSABHRC round)
31st May/1st June - Jim Clark Historic (Asphalt) (MSABHRC round)
29th June - RSAC Scottish Historic Rally (Gravel)
7th July - Greystoke Forest Stages (Gravel)
28th September - Trackrod Historic Cup (Gravel)
3rd November - MEM Malton Stages Rally (Gravel)
22/23rd November - Roger Albert Clark Rally (Mixed)
