TOPCLIFFE rally driver Tim Pearcey clinched the Kumho Tyres Clubman's Rally Championship by a single point after a nail-biting climax on last weekend's Bulldog Rally based in Shrewsbury.

Driving the venerable Ford Escort Mk II and with co-driver Mick Johnson from Pickhill on the pace notes, Pearcey snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on the final stage as the season-long battle came down to the final few miles of competition.

Starting the last stage in third place and needing to close the 15-second gap on Manx rival George Collister to win the championship, Pearcey threw caution to the wind and clawed back 19 seconds through the fog, rain and gloom of the Dyfnant stage to emerge as the 2004 champion.

He said: "The Kumho Clubman's Championship has been a great opportunity for myself and Mick to prove ourselves in front of a big audience. The TV coverage has been a big bonus and we are amazed at the number of casual viewers who have seen us on the Sky channels".

The Martyn Tinker-prepared Escort Mk II crew have been successful in winning the 2004 Astra and Kall Kwik Clubman's events en route to the title and have proven their undoubted ability to take the championship win with both speed and consistency.

Winning the Kumho Clubman's Championship is the high point of Pearcey's relatively short rallying career and has also given him the platform to move up the ladder.

"My next move has to be to an affordable 4WD car for 2005 and we reckon the best opportunity has to be the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge Series within the ANCRO National Championship.

"But it needs a financial commitment which is a little over the available budget that I have got at the moment. I already have a fair amount of sponsorship promised and the continued commercial promotion of the series on Sky TV will certainly help when looking for additional backing" said Pearcey.

Also in action on the Bulldog Rally were former champions Steve Petch from Scorton and Northallerton's John Richardson, who contested the event in their Hyundai Accent WRC.

They brought the SGP Motorsport car home in seventh position overall to clinch a top ten position in the championship.

Hamsterley driver Stephen Petch and co-driver Michael Wilkinson from Tow Law finished 40th overall and sixth in class in their Peugeot 206 to clinch a second top ten placing for the SGP Motorsport team, this time in the Peugeot 206 Super Cup.

Tony Thompson from Ingleton and Northallerton's Ian Windress also enjoyed success on the Bulldog by claiming 15th overall and ninth in class in their MSR-prepared Tidybike Mitsubishi Lancer.

As a result, Thompson finished ninth in the 2004 Mitsubishi Evo Challenge with Windress claiming sixth in class for his efforts during the season.

* Ten-times world champion Steve Webster from Easingwold added the first Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship to his tally with a double win in the final round at Mallory Park last weekend.

Aboard the Castrol Suzuki along with passenger Paul Woodhead, Webster took his tenth and 11th wins of the series ahead of runners-up Tim and Tristan Reeves, while Scotton's Greg Lambert continued his great end-of-season form with a third place. Lambert and passenger James Sirrell clinched fourth place in the standings after a superb season aboard their Dalepak Suzuki.

In keeping with the local connection, Webster and Woodhead won the Carpet Time best presented team prize for the 2004 Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship. The Darlington-based company presented the award as the new-look series got into full swing and also supplied several teams with their Rola Trac flooring systems.

"The Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship is a fantastic new approach to the sport and we have been very happy to be involved with the spectacle of sidecar racing for the first time," said Carpet Time's commercial manager Tony Booth.

The award was presented to Webster and Woodhead before the opening race at Mallory Park.

"It's a great honour," said Webster. "We've always taken pride in our presentation and are well aware that the image of motor sport requires constant attention.

"It's great that Carpet Time are behind the Eastern Airways Championship and I hope their association continues for many years to come"

* Leeming rally driver Kevin Procter heads to his favoured Sherwood Forest again this weekend as he seeks his third victory on the Dukeries Motor Club-organised Premier Rally, which takes place on Sunday.

Having won the event in 2000 driving a Ford Cosworth with Bedale's Mark Lawson alongside, Procter took victory in the Subaru Impreza with Mick Gilby from Northallerton on the maps last year and the pair are keen to repeat the feat.

However, they will be hoping for better luck in their Motoscope Ford Puma Evo 4x4 after retiring from their last two events. A broken differential put them out of the Trackrod Rally before they crashed out of the Harold Palin Memorial Stages the following week.

Other locals in action on the Nottinghamshire event are Matt Yeadon from Over Silton and Boltby co-driver David Shores in their Nu Era Mitsubishi Lancer.

They are hoping to follow up their dual success on the recent Trackrod Rally with a similar result.

* Former BTCC ace David Leslie saw off a concerted challenge from former teammate Anthony Reid to clinch victory in the inaugural night race at Croft circuit last Saturday evening.

Originally scheduled for a 6pm start, the two-hour long EERC Britcar Twilight Endurance Race was brought forward by two hours due to the lack of suitable floodlighting.

But, once under way, the Scot and partner Harry Hankammer took their BMW into the lead from the start.

Fellow Scotsman Reid, driving an MGZR, took over at the front at the first of the pit stops before handing to teammate Fiona Leggate, who eventually succumbed to Leslie's pace as he took the chequered flag nearly a minute ahead of his nearest rival.

Meanwhile, plans are almost finalised for the return of the British Rallycross Grand Prix which takes place at Croft next weekend and is being organised by Darlington and District Motor Club.

With the cream of British and European drivers scheduled to descend on North Yorkshire, demand for tickets has been high for the meeting, which will also incorporate the Internations Cup.

Discounted advance tickets are still available, including a gold pass which includes a weekend pass, car pass, programme, hospitality and the chance to meet the drivers. Further details from Terry Wright on 01325 359895 or at www.BritishRallycrossGP.com

* The recently issued British Rally Driver Top 100 rankings have locals well to the fore among the country's best.

Shildon's Barry Johnson is rated 11th best driver in the country, with Scorton's Steve Petch in 20th place despite spending much of the season on the sidelines.

Heighington JWRC contender Guy Wilks is 24th, with Castleton ace Ryan Champion in 37th. Leeming driver Kevin Procter is 50th, just one place ahead of Ripon's Charlie Payne, while Bishop Auckland's Tristan Pye occupies 73rd spot.