AFTER a notable absence last year when insufficient forestry roads of enough quality could be found, the annual Ripon Land Rover-sponsored Riponian Rally is again scheduled to take place on Sunday.

With more than 60 entries received for the opening round of The Walkers/Tecno2 ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, it's set to be another cracking event, especially with the forecast of possible snow and ice which has become a feature of the event in recent years.

Favourite for overall victory is sure to be previous winner Charlie Payne, from Ripon, in his newly-acquired ex-works Hyundai Accent World Rally Car, who will have York travel agent Craig Thorley again on the maps.

But the local dairy farmer is sure to face stiff opposition from former Scottish champion Barry Johnson, from Shildon, in his Subaru WRC, and Leeming transport magnate Kev Procter, who, along with Northallerton's Mick Gilby, will pose a threat in the ex-Charlie Payne Subaru.

Keeping a watching brief will be the Escort Cosworths of top clubmen Ian Joel, Paul Benn and Donovan Jenkin, while more local challenges will come from former winners Matt Yeadon, from Pickhill, and Boltby co-driver Richard Shores in their DSM-prepared Mitsubishi, Thimbleby's David Brown in his Motoscope-prepared Ford Puma Evo 4x4 and Bishop Auckland driver Tristan Pye in the JPM Subaru.

Two-wheel drive honours are expected to be fought out between a trio of local crews in their venerable Ford Escorts, with Topcliffe driver Tim Pearcey and Thirsk's Mick Johnson keen for victory on their local event.

Also in with a shout will be Northallerton garage proprietor Charlie Taylor and the Bedale pairing of Jonathan Kitchen and Nigel Bennett, who traditionally do well.

Other locals to look out for include Lealholm driver Nick Cook (Mitsubishi), West Rounton's Chris Blake (Ford Escort Cosworth) and Nick Dale, from Ripon, in his Talbot Sunbeam.

The Masham father and son team of Mick and Richard Welford swap seats with each other as Mick takes to the controls of his Ford Escort for the first time in a decade.

Former national champions Steve Petch, from Scorton, and Northallerton's John Richardson will be conducting course car honours in the SGP Motorsport Subaru should their usual Hyundai Accent WRC not be ready in time.

The event also comprises qualifying rounds of both the Kent Cams ANCC Northern Stage Rally Championship and the Road Runner Phoenix Award ANEMMC Stages Rally Championship.

The 45-stage mile event starts and finishes at Lightwater Valley theme park, near Ripon. Crews tackle two spectator stages in the morning, starting at 8.30, with a return visit scheduled for about 2.30.

Spectator gates open at 7.30 and parking costs £5 per car, which also includes the return visit.

The vast majority of the event takes place in the woods and forests of the western North York Moors, many of which are out of bounds to spectators, but parking will be allowed at a couple of stages using official Forestry Commission car parks.

The College Moor stage (SS3 and SS8) is accessed from the A170 at Tom Smith's Cross, with first cars expected at 9.45 and noon respectively.

Parking for Roppa (SS6 and SS11) is at the Forestry Commission car park on Cowhouse Bank. In Helmsley, take the A170 Scarborough road and turn left towards Carlton Village. Follow the signed spectator route north for about three miles to the stage, where cars are due at 11am and 1.20.

All car parks cost £5 per car and roadside parking will not be permitted at any venue.

Top ten entries: 1 Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry, Subaru Impreza WRC; 2 Kevin Procter/Mike Gilby, Subaru Impreza; 3 Ian Joel/Graeme Wood, Ford Escort Cosworth; 4 Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley, Hyundai Accent WRC Evo 3.5; 5 Donovan Jenkin/Ian Bass, Ford Escort Cosworth; 6 Matthew Yeadon/Richard Shores, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3; 7 Tristan Pye/Roger Herron, Subaru Impreza; 8 Paul Benn/Richard Cooke, Ford Escort Cosworth; 9 David Brown/Daniel Barritt, Ford Puma 4x4 Evo; 10 Tim Pearcey/Mick Johnson, Ford Escort Mk2.

l Record-breaking sidecar ace Steve Webster has confirmed he will challenge for the brand new 2004 Eastern Airways British Sidecar Championship.

Nine-times world champion Webster, from Easingwold, and passenger Paul Woodhead will campaign a Suzuki machine in the 13-round championship which gets under way at Silverstone on March 28.

"It's been around 15 years since I last chased a British title and, indeed, since sidecars have raced at this level, so I'm relishing the chance to tackle each and every one of the 13 rounds in 2004," said Webster, who won his ninth world title in France last October.

He added: "Of the British Superbike teams I've spoken to, they're all excited and looking forward to the return of a sidecar championship at the top level, especially with the new-style liveries for machines, and from what I've seen of the entry list, it will be very competitive.

"The interest from European teams is now beginning to appear so it certainly should be a championship well worthy of running alongside the established and exciting British Superbike Championship."

2004 Eastern Airways British Sidecar Championship calendar. - Mar 28: Silverstone; Apr 12: Brands Hatch (Indy circuit); Apr 25: Snetterton; May 3: Oulton Park; May 23: Mondello Park, Ireland; June 6: Thruxton; June 20: Brands Hatch (GP circuit); July 4: Knockhill; July 18: Rockingham; Aug 15: TBA; Aug 30: Cadwell Park; Sept 12: Oulton Park; Sept 19: Donington Park.

* Following a clean sweep at the opening round of the Darlington and District Motor Club-organised ANECCC Winter Rallycross Championship in December, Northallerton driver Dave Bellerby was hoping to continue his winning streak at round two of the series at Blyton in Lincolnshire this weekend. But, due to a lack of entries, the organisers have decided to cancel the meeting.

The 39-year-old property developer remained unbeaten at Croft, but missed out on the series lead as the complex points-scoring system favoured Redcar driver Adrian Horsley's Stock Hatch class Citroen Saxo as opposed to Bellerby's Modified Vauxhall Nova.

Now Bellerby will have to wait until the end of February before he's back in rallycross action when the next round of the series is planned to revisit Croft.

And while many drivers have enjoyed the two-month recess, Bellerby has been at the wheel of his recently-acquired Vauxhall Corsa rally car contesting a number of local events in readiness for this year's Barbados Rally Carnival.

Sadly, both outings at Croft, where he contested the Specsavers Christmas Stages and the Digital Office Solutions Jack Frost Stages, ended in retirement when he and Leeming co-driver Sandra Pelling succumbed to driveshaft failure and electrical problems.