LEEMING rally driver Kevin Procter and co-driver Mike Gilby, from Northallerton, notched up an impressive fifth place overall in the Rally Barbados last weekend.

The pair overcame changeable weather conditions and the cancellation of eight stages in their Motoscope-sponsored Ford Escort Cosworth.

On the final event of the two-week long Barbados Rally Carnival, the North Yorkshire crew could not match the pace of the local Caribbean entrants, but they emerged as the top foreign crew in the 15th running of the event.

But the Yorkshiremen had to work hard for their prize, having been involved in a tremendous battle with Bajans Roger Hill and Graham Gittens (Toyota Celica GT4).

At the start of the final day, Hill was ahead by a little under four seconds before Procter moved in front, only for Hill to snatch back the advantage on the rally's longest stage, the 8.1km Kendal test.

Once ahead, Hill was not to be denied, not least thanks to the cancellation of the final two runs through the Kendal stage and the loss of three more late afternoon stages on the recommendation of the Royal Barbados Police Force, which had been called in to deal with some crowd disturbances.

Easingwold builders Fred and Mark Davison eventually finished 40th out of the 89 starters in their Peugeot 205, but the Bedale pairing of Bryan Gill and Jonathan Bean retired their Opel Kadett just two stages from home.

* Unseasonably warm and dry weather at Knockhill in Fife caused major problems for competitors in round four of the MSA British Rallycross Championship.

Organisers deemed the track was too dangerous following the failure of two water bowsers engaged to dampen down the dust.

As a result, both the A finals for the Stock Hatch and Minicross categories also fell victim to the track conditions, meaning results had to be based on qualifying order.

Having qualified on pole position for the respective Stock Hatch and Minicross classes, points leaders John Binks from Gosforth and Redcar's Adrian Horsley continued their unbeaten run in the championship, each being awarded his fourth event win of the year at Knockhill.

With a maxim haul of 400 points each, Horsley and Binks remain joint leaders of the BRDA Championship which runs concurrently to the British Championship, but which is open to drivers from all classes.

l Having been given an eleventh-hour clearance to race despite his recently broken ankle, Guisborough road racer Dennis Hobbs made the overnight dash to Oschersleben in Germany to contest round four of the European Superstock Championship.

But the 21-year-old's efforts came to nothing as, for the second time in as many meetings, he failed to complete a lap.

Last time out at Monza in Italy, Hobbs was a victim of a four-rider pile-up at the final corner of the opening lap, sustaining the break to his right ankle after falling from the Beowulf Suzuki.

And his continental jinx struck again in Germany as he fell, along with French rider Pierrot Vanstaen, on the very first lap of the race run in sweltering conditions.

Vanstaen managed to rejoin the race, but Hobbs' machine was damaged in the incident, meaning his battling performance to qualify in 23rd position was to no avail.

Instead, Hobbs will travel to Thruxton this weekend to try to secure the lead of the THINK! British Superbike Cup aboard his Hobbs Racing Suzuki before moving on to Silverstone for the UK round of the ESC the following weekend.

* Variety will be the order of the day this weekend when Croft circuit hosts the first Darlington and District Motor Club race meeting of the season.

No less than 20 races are scheduled throughout the two-day festival, which will see a healthy mix of single-seaters, sports and saloon cars in action as well as the radical Scottish Legends cars which always provide plenty of thrills.

The meeting will comprise round four of the Stoneguard Scholar Monoposto Championship with five races for the various classes and, with entries still streaming in, fans can expect the likes of Derbyshire's Jeremy Unsworth (1800cc), Gloucester's Jim Blockley (2000cc) and London IT manager Jeremy Timms (1600cc) well to the fore after the last round at Mallory Park.

The Scottish Caterhams will include George Brewster and Ian Cowie, who are set to renew their recent battle around Knockhill, and they will be sharing the track with the Scottish Mini contenders, including front-runners Mike Connan and Vic Covey.

Colin Noble heads Ray Davison by a mere 30 points in the Legends series, but the in-form Ben Mason will be hoping to usurp his compatriots over the four scheduled outings.

Capacity grids have once again been assembled for the increasingly popular Northern Saloon and Sportscar Championship as rounds three and four get under way around the super-fast North Yorkshire circuit.

With a maximum score in both earlier rounds, Dundee driver Colin Simpson leads the A1 class in his Marcos Mantis, while the A2 class is led by fellow Scot Jonathan Young in his ex-Laurent Aiello BTCC Nissan Primera, courtesy of a new lap record at the Croft circuit last time out.

Scottish drivers also dominate classes B and C in the shape of Stirling's Andrew Morrison (MG ZR) and Tony Caig from Castle Douglas (Ford Fiesta), both of whom were victorious a couple of weeks ago at Croft.

However, local drivers challenging for honours include Redmarshall's David Botterill (Porsche 944) and Darlington ace David Cox (Peugeot 205).

Darren Flounders from Hartlepool heads Class D in his 1600cc Ford Fiesta after veteran Mick Starkey (Seaton Carew) crashed out in the last round and Cumbrian Arthur Robinson (Westfield) is just eight points up on Heighington driver Malcolm Turnbull in his bike-engined Westfield Megabusa at the head of class E1.

Stockton's Martyn Lightfoot heads class F in his Sylva Strika kit car after a win last time out.

MG owners can benefit from a special deal over the weekend whereby two adults will be admitted for the price of one and it is hoped that a classic display of MGs will also be organised.

Tomorrow's action starts with qualifying from 9.30 and the first of nine races immediately before the lunch break. The remaining eight races commence at 2pm, with the 11 races on Sunday starting at 12.30.

Adult admission costs £6 tomorrow and £12 on Sunday with accompanied children under 15 admitted free.

Meanwhile, plans are at an advanced stage for the visit of the THINK! British Superbike Championship later this summer with the announcement that a media and test day will be taking place at Croft on June 15.

The event will be open to the general public and most of the top teams and riders are expected to utilise the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the circuit.

Advance tickets are still available for the BSB meeting on August 14/15 and further information is available from event manager Claire Jones on 01325 721815 or by visiting www.croftcircuit.co.uk

l Topcliffe rally driver Tim Pearcey aims to extend his lead in the Kumho Clubman Rally Championship this weekend as the series travels to mid-Wales for the Mutiny Clubman Rally, which comprises round three of the ultra-competitive series.

Pearcey and co-driver Mick Johnson, from Pickhill, will try to consolidate their points lead on the smooth and flowing stages near to the base town of Llandrindod Wells.

After the disappointment of retiring from the recent Roush Manx Rally, Scorton motor dealer Steve Petch and Northallerton co-driver John Richardson will be hoping to get their ANCRO Championship back on track in Wales in their Hyundai Accent WRC.

Another SGP Motorsport team in the shape of Hamsterley's Stephen Petch junior and his co-driver Michael Wilkinson, from Tow Law, will be looking for a good result in the Peugeot 206 Cup.