RALLYING with a touch of nostalgia returned to the region this week with the inaugural running of the Roger Albert Clark (RAC) Rally and two local crews impressed on the four-day event.

Driving the Opel Kadett GTE his father John drove a number of years ago, Aiskew company director Bryan Gill ended up in an impressive ninth place overall and first in class after the 25 special stages.

Along with Easingwold co-driver Nigel Hutchinson, Gill gradually climbed the leaderboard throughout the event despite stopping to help another competitor on one of the Tuesday morning stages in Kielder.

The pair stopped to render assistance to top driver Steve Perez, who had slid off the road on the Chridonhead stage and was stuck in a ditch.

Despite losing valuable time himself, Gill attempted to tow the stricken Porsche out. But a towing eye broke and the valiant attempt was in vain.

As it transpired, the time the pair lost in helping their fellow competitor could have promoted them up a couple of places on the leaderboard.

Crook driver Keith Scarr and co-driver Paul Hudson from Darlington endured the agony of retiring on the final morning after a broken clutch cable thwarted their bid in the Steel River Ford Escort.

A steady start had seen the pair inside the top 20 for much of the event before the problem on the now infamous Chirdonhead test ended their bid.

Despite managing to drag the car out of the stage to the emergency service area, where the Motoscope technicians soon fitted a new cable, the pair had gone Outside Total Lateness (OTL) and, while they completed the remaining stages, they were not classified at the Sheffield finish.

Aimed at recreating the Lombard RAC marathons of years gone by, the De Lacy Motor Club event attracted just less than 50 historic cars.

They set out from Sheffield on Saturday afternoon and followed a route north into Scotland before a daunting loop through Kielder Forest. The final service and spectator stage at Croft on Tuesday afternoon attracted another healthy crowd, which was typical of the popularity of the event.

The rally was won by former world champion Stig Blomqvist from Sweden ahead of Britain's Jeremy Easson, with Finnish legend Hannu Mikkola claiming third.

Top ten placings. - 1 Stig Blomqvist/Ana Goni, Ford Escort Mk2 RS, 3hr 20min 41sec; 2 Jeremy Easson/Alun Cook, Ford Escort RS 2000, 3:25.55; 3 Hannu Mikkola/Ieuan Thomas, Ford Escort RS 1800, 3:29.46; 4 Ray Bell/Dorian Evans, Ford Escort RS 1600, 3:30.42; 5 Philip Squires/Michael Squires, Ford Escort RS 1800, 3:35.37; 6 Grant Shand/Frank Richer, Ford Escort, 3:36.33; 7 Richard Lepley/Ian Bevan, Ford Escort RS 1600, 3:40.54; 8 Alexander Hack/Rob Richardson, Ford Escort RS 1600, 3:44.30; 9 Bryan Gill/Nigel Hutchinson, Opel Kadett GTE, 3:46.25; 10 Anthony Ward/Mark Crisp, Ford Escort RS 1600, 3:47.00.

l With three weeks still to go until the official closing date, this year's Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally has already attracted nearly a capacity entry for the annual running of the Northallerton Auto Club event on Tuesday, December 28.

With 70 drivers already having had their entries accepted since regulations came out a couple of weeks ago, organisers have now started the selection process.

This will continue until the closing date, with a further 20 crews accepted at the organisers' discretion. The remainder will be put on a reserve list or will have their entries returned, such is the popularity of the event.

Included in the list of those who will definitely get a run is local hero Tony Bardy, winner of the Jack Frost Stages at Croft circuit in January, in his Nissan Sunny.

Leeds brothers Phil and Mick Gallagher wheel out their MG Metro 6R4 once again and other 6R4 entries include top Scottish driver John Bogie, along with Tom Morris.

Paul Bird, winner for the last two years, is planning to bring his Ford Focus WRC to the festive event.

Further details are available on www.northallerton-ac.co.uk

* Two other events in the region are also starting to gear up in the run-up to Christmas and both are equally as popular with spectators and competitors alike.

The ever-popular Grizedale Stages takes place in the Lake District a week tomorrow with a capacity entry including Shildon driver Barry Johnson in his Subaru WRC.

Just one week later, on Sunday, December 12, the North Yorkshire forests will reverberate to the sound of rally cars when the Rolltek Stages Rally roars into action in the annual Malton Motor Club event.

The Hyundai Accent pairing of Steve Petch from Scorton and Northallerton's John Richardson will be aiming for victory, but will face tough opposition in the Cropton and Gale Rigg complexes