AN EX-RALLY driver turned car dealer has seen exports from his business boom since the recession.

Steve Smith, 60, the owner of Walkers Lancia and Fiat dealership in South Otterington, Northallerton, has exported £200,000 worth of classic cars to countries as far afield as the Ukraine, Chile and Sweden in the last three years.

He said: “Over the last two or three years we’ve seen a big jump in exports. It is the devaluation of the pound that has made all the difference.

“Twenty five per cent of my parts business is abroad, and cars have been sent from Belgium, Jordan and the Netherlands for work to be carried out.

“People want a Lancia because of its world winning heritage. They are a modern day classic and people just want to be associated with that.

“It is having the track record in modifying Lancias from my racing career that attracts customers from abroad. They’re getting a bespoke product and they know it is not just a flash in the pan.”

Walkers also have strong trade manufacturing parts for Lancias. They are well known for making radiators for motorsport teams as well as farmers, hauliers and the public.

Mr Smith developed a passion for Lancias while racing an Integrate model as a rally driver, once finishing third in the British Rally Championships and twentieth in the World Rally Championships, the first ever private team to finish and a feat that was filmed by TV’s Top Gear.

He added: “All my mates were using Ford Cosworth’s and I wanted something that was different. There weren’t many people driving Lancias at the time.

Born in Northallerton in 1953 Mr Smith racing career stretched from 1971 until 1989 during which time he started running his car dealership. Originally selling Morris Marinas, he then spent 10 years selling Mitsubishi cars, before becoming a Fiat and Lancia dealership in 1988.