After ten years of trying, part time rally driver Tony Bardy eventually secured an outright victory by winning the Digital Office Solutions Jack Frost Stages rally at Croft Circuit.

Driving his Nissan Sunny GTI-R in the Darlington & DMC annual event, Bardy, from Scotch Corner, along with York co-driver Reg Smith, saw off a three-pronged MG Metro 6R4 onslaught in the shape of double winners John Bogie/David Paterson, Croft debutants John Stone/Lee Carter and Middleham brothers Stuart and John Adamson.

Bardy, who spends most of his time preparing customer rallycross cars, defied early ice and rain to lead throughout the eight-stage event and eased off in the latter stages to ensure his inaugural win around the track where he had much success as an emerging driver in his own rallycross days.

The next outing for the Yorkshire pairing will be the annual Tour of Mull in October.

Top Ten: 1. Tony Bardy/Reg Smith Nissan Sunny GTI-R 39m 13s; 2. John Stone/Lee Carter MG Metro 6R4 39m 31s; 3. John Bogie/David Paterson MG Metro 6R4 39m 39s; 4. Stuart Adamson/John Adamson MG Metro 6R4 41m 12s; 5. Steve Simpson/Mark Booth Subaru Impreza 41m 31s; 6. Barry Lindsey/Michael Lindsey Peugeot 106 41m 40s; 7. Chris Platt/'Mad' Mick Robinson Vauxhall Corsa 42m 18s; 8. Michael Holland/Rhona Calverley Ford Escort Mk 1 42m 22s; 9. Richard Wormald/Dave Hanlon Vauxhall Astra Sport 42m 28s; 10. David Jones/Russ Swift Ford Escort Cosworth 42m 30s

l Nine times world sidecar champion Steve Webster will be guest of honour at tonight's North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club social evening at Northallerton Town FC (8.30).

Webster, from Easingwold, will be joined by Scotton hot-shot Greg Lambert. Admission costs £2.00.

l Britain's leading young rally driver, Guy Wilks, is confident of a positive start to the FIA 2004 Junior World Rally Championship when he makes his first competitive outing behind the wheel of a Suzuki Ignis 1600 on the Rallye Monte Carlo this weekend,

The Heighington driver, along with his Welsh co-driver Phil Pugh, retired from the season opener last year with technical problems in their Ford.

But following an intensive two-day test in their new car with their brand new team, Monster Sport Europe, the duo are looking forward to conquering the French Alps this weekend.

Wilks, who will turn 23 this Thursday, is hoping for a great start to the 2004 Junior World Rally Championship season come the end of the gruelling event on Sunday night.