Darlington and District Motor Club attracted more than 200 competitors to their annual club championship race meeting at Croft last weekend.

Drivers from all parts of the country, as well as one from Sweden, mixed it with a strong local contingent in a feast of action in a wide range of cars.

As usual there was a strong entry from Scotland and Tyne and Wear, but the region's drivers fared well, especially in the Northern Sports and Saloon Car Championship.

Doncaster veteran driver, 72-year-old Tony Sugden, dominated Class A on both days in his radical Skoda 130RS, with Yarm driver Mark Campbell (Lotus Elan) and Middlesbrough's Brian Robinson (Porsche 930) hot on his heels.

Heighington driver Malcolm Turnbull kept the Westfield Megabusa on track to take second in a hotly-contested Class E, with Thirsk's Ian Hepburn's formidable 4.8-litre Westfield tracking him closely.

Martyn Lightfoot from Stockton took Class F honours and the championship class in his Sylva Striker.

The Class B, C, and D race sported a capacity grid and both Class B races were won by Scotsman Andrew Morrison in his MGZR, but not without pressure from Steven Ferguson's Nissan Pulsar on Saturday and Ray Pollock's Escort Cosworth on Sunday.

A host of local drivers filled the grid, but it was Northallerton's Guy Blumer who topped the list on Saturday in his Class D 1600 Escort XR3. Sadly, Blumer couldn't repeat the feat the following day when carnage at the first corner saw him and a few others eliminated from the restart.

Saturday also proved expensive for Class C runner David Cox from Darlington (Peugeot 205), whose engine expired in a big way. Fortunately the team had a spare and an all-night session saw them ready for Sunday, when Cox took a ninth place overall.

Darlington's Terry Wright (Rover Metro) spent the weekend embroiled in battles with fellow County Durham resident Ryan Upson's Rover Tomcat and the Fiesta XR2 of Hartlepool driver Darren Flounders, while not far behind was David Birkett from Heighington (Rover Tomcat) and the Porsche 924 of Les Cowburn of Bishop Middleham.

The event finished with a race to support The Katy Trust charity and many of the local drivers ended up battling for honours. The eventual victory went to Mark Campbell, who made up for the disappointment of losing out to Sugden earlier in the weekend.

l Durham racing driver Chris Dent made a welcome return to the Formula Zip class when he contested the double header meeting at Brands Hatch last weekend and posted a pair of rostrum placings.

Having been out of action for a couple of months due to an accident last time he raced at the Kent circuit, the 18-year-old single-seater racer had to miss the two subsequent rounds at Snetterton, which effectively ended his bid for championship honours.

He was lying second in the points table at the time of the crash, but the teenager from Merryoaks battled back to full fitness to outline his considerable talent.

Friday practice went well and on Sunday morning Dent qualified in sixth position on the grid, just three tenths of a second off the pole time.

In race one, Dent was able to demonstrate his strength in overtaking and he charged his way through to finish second.

Race two was an equally tough encounter and demonstrated Dent's ability to defend as well as attack. Gearbox problems made downshifts particularly difficult, allowing those behind to put him under considerable pressure, but the youngster still managed to claim a deserved third place.

Speaking afterwards, Dent said: "I had put the accident out of my mind almost immediately after it had occurred. I simply wanted to get back into the car and do what I like doing best, which is racing.

"I really enjoyed the weekend and the racing was hard but clean. I am learning all the time and improving in each area. I'm looking forward to the next round at Rockingham and hopefully a winner's trophy this time. It's a new circuit for me and it should be great fun".

* With forest rallying set to return to Hamsterley Forest near Bishop Auckland this weekend for the first time in nearly a decade, Ripon Motor Sports Club has specifically requested that no spectators visit the event as there are no provisions to cater for them this year.

With increased pressure and regulations on organisers nationwide to reduce the number of accidents involving spectators, the club's resources will be stretched to ensure the smooth running of the inaugural SG Petch Tour of Hamsterley Forest Stages, but there is still an opportunity for fans to see the action.

While spectators will be turned away, marshals are being encouraged to register beforehand and more details can be obtained form chief marshal Richard Banner on 01765 600876.

A superb entry of 69 cars will contest the 40-mile event, which comprises rounds of the Deansbury Homes ANECCC and Kent Cams ANCC Championships. The first of five stages gets under way at 10am on Sunday, with the finish some seven hours later.

Barry Johnson (Subaru WRC) from Shildon and Tynesider Michael Glendinning (Impreza) will be main contenders for honours, but they can expect a stiff challenge from the likes of Charlie Payne from Ripon (Subaru) and Leeming's Kevin Procter in his Escort Cosworth.

One driver to watch will be the event sponsor's son, Stephen Petch junior, who will make the move up from his usual Ford Ka to a Group N Subaru Impreza for his first drive in a four-wheel drive car.

Top ten entries. - 1 B Johnson/S Merry, Subaru Impreza WRC; 2 K Procter/M Gilby, Ford Escort Cosworth; 3 C Payne/C Thorley, Subaru Impreza; 4 M Glendenning/J Wylie, Subaru Impreza; 5 G Ruler/D Everaro, Ford Escort Cosworth; 6 I Peake/TBA, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 7; 7 R Watts/C Parling, Ford Escort Cosworth; 8 D Marshal/R Shuttleworth, Subaru Impreza; 9 R Dennis/R Roughead, Subaru Impreza; 10 P Benn/R Cooke, Ford Escort Cosworth.

* Good news greeted motor sport fans with the announcement that Northallerton Automobile Club will be involved in the running of two major rallies in the region over the winter.

The annual Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally is once again planned for Croft circuit on Sunday, December 28 and, following last year's success, a quality entry is almost certainly guaranteed for the single-venue event which will comprise rounds of a number of regional championships.

It was widely acknowledged that last year's event was one of the best in recent years as regards the calibre of drivers entered and their exotic machinery and regulations should be available in forthcoming weeks.

In the meantime, the NAC, along with Kirby Lonsdale and Eden Valley motor clubs, has been involved in the resurrection of the Pendragon Stages Rally which will take place on Sunday, November 9, based in Appleby.

The 51 stage mile event will use the sealed surface military roads of Warcop Camp on the Cumbria and North Yorkshire border as well as a spectator stage which has yet to be confirmed.

The rally will be sponsored by WA Developments of Appleby, from whose premises the event will start before finishing in Brough. Regulations will soon be available.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire's round of the Pirelli British Championship takes place later this month when the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire welcomes international competitors to the region for the penultimate round of the series over the weekend of September 27 and 28.

NAC is running the Staindale stage and help is needed with marshalling over the weekend. Anyone interested in helping out should contact Geoff Balls on 07974 373367.