SHILDON rally driver Barry Johnson emerged with two outright victories to his credit after a hectic weekend both north and south of the border.
Driving his Subaru WRC, which had been repaired following a huge shunt in Wales a few weeks ago, the outgoing Scottish champion won Saturday's Park Systems Stages Rally after a day-long battle in the forests of Dumfries and Galloway.
With Channel Islander Stewart Merry on the notes as usual, Johnson set second fastest time on the opening stage before hitting the front on the second test.
He maintained a narrow two-second gap until the final stage, where he increased the winning margin to seven seconds at the finish.
The pair then made the evening dash back to home territory to contest Sunday's SG Petch Hamsterley Forest Stages, where they again took the victory in their Barrier Surveillance-backed Impreza.
Despite a strong local challenge, Johnson proved the class act by setting fastest times on all five of the Ripon Motor Sports Club event to win by more than a minute and a half and claim a memorable double.
Also making it a weekend to remember was Ingleton driver Tony Thompson, who finished runner-up to Johnson on Sunday in his Mitsubishi Lancer.
Co-driven by Ian Windress from Northallerton, he also finished tenth overall in the previous day's rally on his way to fifth in the Evo Challenge class to consolidate third place in the standings with just one round remaining.
The third of the region's teams to contest both events were Scorton driver Stephen Petch junior and Tow Law co-driver Mike Wilkinson, who also had an impressive weekend.
Driving their usual SGP Motorsport Ford Ka on the Park Systems rally, the youngsters followed up their recent good form with another brilliant class win on their way to 17th overall.
They then took to the wheel of a Group N Subaru Impreza for the following day, taking 31st overall and 19th in class despite a stage maximum on the opening test which dropped them six minutes.
Scotland saw the demise of two local crews' hopes of challenging for the Kumho Tyres National Championship when both retired in the early stages.
Scorton's Steve Petch and co-driver John Richardson from Romanby had to take evasive action to avoid a stranded competitor less than a mile into the opening stage, resulting in damage to the front of the car which forced the Hyundai Accent WRC crew out.
Helmsley driver Martyn Harrison and co-driver Jude Wylie slid off the road a stage later in their MG Metro 6R4, which also resulted in retirement.
As a result, Petch wasn't able to contest his home event on Sunday, but there were plenty of local drivers well to the fore in addition to Johnson, Thompson and Petch junior.
Leeming driver Kevin Procter and co-driver Mick Gilby from Northallerton took their Escort Cosworth to fourth overall, with Bishop Auckland's Tristan Pye and Scottish co-driver Roger Herron just five seconds down in fifth after 40 stage miles.
Ripon driver Tim Pearcey, along with co-driver Mick Johnson from Thirsk, claimed a class win on his way to seventh overall in his Ford Escort, with Thirsk builder Ian Rudd impressing in ninth in his Sapphire Cosworth.
Exelby's Chris Lewis took tenth in his Mitsubishi, while Crakehall driver Richard Welford ended up 14th in his Masham Sausage Shop Cosworth.
Northallerton driver Chris Blake made a welcome return to the sport after a number of years out and claimed an impressive 16th overall in the Escort Cosworth he shared with Richmond's Tony Walker.
The County Durham pairing of Ian Peake and Chris Thirling took 22nd in their Mitsubishi, Durham driver Gavin Spencer and co-driver Steve Waggett from Ingleby Barwick claimed 36th overall in their Nova, while Birtley brothers Kevin and Keith Knox were down in 40th in their Ford Cosworth after problems.
Retirements included Consett's Jimmy Knox and Alec Renwick (Talbot), Northallerton driver Charlie Taylor (Escort) and Bob Dennis from Bishop Auckland in his Subaru.
l Guisborough road racer Dennis Hobbs saw his hopes of landing the British Superbike Championship Privateers Cup end in disaster when he crashed out of the penultimate round at Brands Hatch last weekend.
Despite missing the opening two races, the 20-year-old had closed the gap at the top of the standings to just two points courtesy of 11 rostrum finishes in 12 rounds, but any chance of winning the prestigious title was thwarted in a second-lap crash at the Kent track.
The Hobbs Racing Suzuki 1000 rider was knocked out in the accident as well as suffering a broken collarbone and other minor injuries which will rule him out of next weekend's final round at Donington, meaning title rival Dave Wood only needs to finish to claim the crown.
Meanwhile, Russ Hodgson continued his great end of season form with another fine result in the Yamaha R6 Cup, recording his second successive top six finish in the series.
The 22-year-old from Skutterskelfe, near Hutton Rudby, had to muster funds from friends and family in order to compete at Brands, but he rewarded their faith with a superb performance to hoist himself up to eighth in the standings with just one round left.
Middlesbrough's Paul Veazey posted a fine eighth place in the National 125cc race despite still suffering from injuries sustained in the previous round at Cadwell Park.
The 17-year-old battled in the leading bunch for most of the race despite a poor start aboard the Banks GV Honda and had it not been for his injured wrist, he could well have improved further.
However, the result moves Veazey up into the top ten of the standings, equal ninth on points going into the final round next weekend.
Fellow 125cc Middlesbrough rider Michael Hill was ruled out by a wrist injury sustained in a freak accident on Saturday evening when he crashed his paddock scooter, while Whitby-born Jenny Tinmouth was also a non-starter after injuring herself in the previous round.
* Yarm driver Bill Addison couldn't capitalise on his recent run of results when the Caterham Graduate Challenge visited Snetterton in Norfolk last weekend.
Driving the Addison Plant-sponsored Roadster he fell foul of a technical infringement during qualifying which meant his car was underweight at post-qualifying scrutineering as it had used more fuel than the team had calculated.
The resulting ten-second penalty and back row start hindered any chance of a good result in the race, but a brave drive through the field saw Addison claim 13th out of the 25 starters at the flag. The next round takes place at Mallory Park next weekend.
* Castleton's Ryan Champion avoided trouble on a wet and slippery Answer Call Direct Ulster Rally recently to take a season's best result of second place in the Super 1600 class on his way to a battling eighth position overall.
Round five of the Pirelli British Rally Championship started for the third time in a row with wet asphalt awaiting the crews and, with the majority of the narrow Ulster lanes muddy and slippery from recent rains, it made the roads even more treacherous.
The first loop of stages caused its fair share of casualties and Champion, along with co-driver Cliff Simmons, decided against taking any risks to lay just a few seconds off third place in S1600 at the overnight halt in Armagh.
Despite more rain on day two, the Ford Rally Sport-supported duo managed to move up to third in class and, heading into the last stage of the event, Champion was in the middle of a four-way battle for ninth place with three of the more powerful four-wheel drive cars. He managed to take the place by just three seconds.
The next event for the team is their home event, the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, which starts in Malton before heading into the Dalby forest complex. The rally takes place on September 27 and 28 and more information can be found at www.rallyyorkshire.co.uk.
l A special visit by the Duke of Edinburgh will be the highlight of this weekend's ACU centenary celebrations at the culmination of the Auto 66 Club's Scarborough International Bike Week. He will present the winner with the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup on Sunday.
The Duke, patron of the ACU, will be making his first appearance at a British short circuit, though he has twice attended the Isle of Man TT. He will arrive at the Oliver's Mount circuit by helicopter and stay for about four hours.
l Motor sport legend Per Eklund will lead the overseas entries for next month's MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix at Croft.
The Swedish driver finished second to Ulsterman John Haffey in last year's event and is returning with the sole aim of improving his finishing position.
"I am going to England to win the Grand Prix. That is the only result that I can be happy with," said Eklund, who is planning to increase the power of his factory-backed Saab 9.3.
Eklund will square up alongside a top class line-up of international drivers, including current British Championship protagonists Dermot Carnegie and Will Gollop.
Discounted advance tickets for the two-day event are still available by calling the circuit on 01325 721815
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