LAST weekend's Plains Rally saw the final round of the Ford Rallye Sport Ka Rally Championship take place and, while the series had already been decided in Bicester driver Jonnie Wigmore's favour, second and third places in the series were still up for grabs.

Great Broughton's Jonny Brown and Harmby co-driver James Lester, together with Scorton driver Stephen Petch junior and his co-driver Michael Wilkinson from Tow Law, were among the 20-strong entry and, after a day-long battle in the Welsh forests, it was Brown who did enough to take his first maximum score of the season and seal the runners-up spot in the overall championship.

Winner on the last round of the series, Petch took first blood on the 45-stage mile event, setting fastest class time on the opening stage ahead of Brown.

But a blistering time on the third of the seven stages moved Brown back ahead of Petch, which is how the two finished. The winning margin after 45 miles of competition was just 24 seconds.

Brown, who had no idea he had secured second until he arrived back at the Welshpool finish, has won a Ford Fiesta road car and a Ford Rallye Sport World Rally Car test drive.

But Petch missed out on third and the chance of a Ford Rallye Sport Super 1600 Rally Car test drive. However, the teenager took consolation in finishing runner-up to Wigmore in the popular junior category as part of Ford Rallye Sport's Ladder of Opportunity.

Darlington co-driver Paul Hudson was also in action on the Plains alongside Ford Ka driver Scott Vogl. The pair survived to the finish to claim eighth in class after an incident-packed day which included being attacked by an angry farmer who was unaware of the event in progress.

Northallerton's Ian Windress, co-driving for Mike Altendorf in a Mitsubishi Lancer, retired just before the final stage when their MSR Motorsport car shed a wheel while well placed.

* Darlington road racer Jonathan Harrison turned on the style with a superb haul of four wins last weekend at Cadwell Park, but the Adrenalin Moto-sponsored rider just missed out on the Honda CB 500 Championship.

In confident mood, Harrison set pole position before leading the pack on the opening race from start to finish, with main rival Steven Thompson following him home in second place.

A carbon copy race followed in Saturday's second outing with Harrison taking a deserved double, but Thompson's runner-up spot was enough to clinch the title.

The first race on the Sunday was stopped due to an incident and was cut to only four laps. But that didn't stop Harrison netting his third victory of the weekend with a resounding ten-second advantage, while claiming the fastest lap of the weekend by more than a second.

The County Durham racer felt very confident for the last race of the day as he sought his fourth win of the weekend and promptly obliged, crossing the line 16 seconds ahead of the next machine.

After a great season at club level, Harrison and his elder brother Richard are looking at making the step up to British Championship level for 2004 and are in search of potential sponsors in order to showcase their skills at that level.

* Exiled Yorkshireman Guy Martin romped to an impressive victory in last weekend's International Gold Cup at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough.

In the presence of Prince Philip, who presented the historic trophy, the rider, originally from Hull but now living in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, overcame a race stoppage to record a win aboard his TEAM Racing Suzuki.

Among the locals in action was Northallerton shopkeeper Darren Grimston, who took his SBR Electrocare Yamaha to 16th in the feature race on his comeback from injury.

* The proposed British Rallycross Grand Prix scheduled to be held at Croft over the weekend of October 11 and 12 has been cancelled due to a shortage of entries.

The circuit, along with Darlington and District Motor Club, had to take the difficult decision following the low entry received for the Grand Prix from the European contingent. It was felt that to run the event, and promote it as such, would denigrate the title.

Also cancelled are the Internations Cup and the Junior Rallycross Championship which were also scheduled for the two-day event.

Discussions regarding the format for the 2004 meeting are to take place very soon and it is hoped that the event will be resurrected for next season.

D&DMC spokesman Terry Wright said: "It is very sad after all the hard work that has gone in. Croft has spent a lot of time talking to the Europeans and arranging ferries, but at the end of the day it comes down to finances.

"The event could desperately do with a sponsor to bring in the star names which would, in turn, provide good TV".

l The region's most important rally takes place in the Yorkshire forests this weekend, with the Leeds-based Trackrod Motor Club announcing a record entry for their staging of the penultimate round of the Pirelli British Rally Championship.

With entries not finally closing until yesterday, the number of cars expected for the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire and associated National, Clubman's and Historic Rallies has already exceeded that of any previous staging in the event's 26-year history.

Topping the pile will be reigning British champion and current series leader Jonny Milner from Huggate, near Driffield, who will be hoping to clinch his second successive title on home soil.

Milner, driving a Toyota Corolla WRC, is assured of massive local support over the North York Moors stages he knows so well, but faces a host of other top names, including main championship rivals Austin McHale from Dublin driving a Subaru Impreza and flying Finn Tapio Laukkenen in a similar car.

A strong local contingent will be looking for good results on their home event after the rigours of a hectic season.

Scorton's Steve Petch and co-driver John Richardson from Northallerton will be a major threat in their Hyundai Accent WRC, while Castleton driver Ryan Champion is looking forward to getting back to the gravel in his Ford Junior Rallye Team Puma after three all-tarmac events in recent weeks.

Fresh from his recent double victory, Shildon's Barry Johnson will be hoping to continue his good form in his Subaru Impreza WRC and could be the dark horse for the win.

Tomorrow's nine stages are shared by a separate Trackrod National Rally and the immensely popular Trackrod Historic Cup, a round of the British Historic Championship, which gives the public a chance to turn the clock back and witness some of the fabulous rally cars made famous during the Sixties and Seventies.

Leading lights in the National event include Leeming driver Kevin Procter with Northallerton's Mick Gilby on the notes in their newly-acquired ex-Charlie Payne Subaru, along with Bishop Auckland's Tristan Pye in his Impreza.

Nick Cook from Lealholm will be looking for two-wheel drive honours in his Ford Escort and the County Durham crew of Stephen Petch junior and Mike Wilkinson will be in their Group N Subaru Impreza for only the second time.

On Sunday the remaining six stages of the international status Trackrod Rally Yorkshire are shared by grass roots competitors contesting the Trackrod Clubman's Trophy, where local interest lies with the likes of Charlie Taylor (Northallerton) in his Mark 2 Escort, Ian Rudd from Thirsk (Ford Cosworth) and Masham butcher Richard Welford in his Escort Cosworth.

Four stages over the weekend will take place at the easily accessible Pickering Showground, which also hosts a full rally show with additional entertainment and trade stands.

All servicing also takes place here and there is full commentary on all the action, while the start, finish and overnight halt take place in nearby Malton for the first time.

Spectators can also catch the action in Cropton and Dalby forests over the weekend and more information can be found by logging on to www.rallyyorkshire.co.uk

* The final round of the North East Motor Cycle Racing Club championship heads to Croft this weekend with another top quality entry assembled on both two and three wheels.

The Laird of Croft Trophy race is the feature event and favourite to hang onto the crown is Scotsman Phil Stewart, who is hoping for a repeat of his 2002 success aboard his 600cc Honda.

The Inverurie rider overcame dreadful conditions last year to lead home fellow Scot Les Shand with local hero Dennis Hobbs in third, but with the latter two riders expected to be at the British Championship finals at Donington the same weekend, it could be that Stewart has an easier run this time round.

However, David Bell from Chester le Street, Colin Gelston from Sunniside and Castleford's Bret Crossley will all be in with a shout, as will another Scottish marauder, Angus Means.

The meeting will also include rounds nine and ten of the FSRA/Bike Sport News F350 Sidecar Championship, with Thirsk's Tony Thirkell and Roy King looking for victory at their local track after a pair of runner-up places in the opening two rounds.

But they can expect stiff opposition from other local aces, including Scotton driver Greg Lambert, who always goes well at his local track.

Practice gets under way at 9.30 tomorrow, with racing from 11.30. Adult admission costs £6.

Sunday's action starts at noon and costs £12, with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free on both days.