STOCKTON racing driver Brian Robinson showed the opposition a clean pair of heels as he romped to a superb victory at the British Racing and Sports Car Club meeting at Croft last weekend.

Driving his powerful 3300cc Porsche 930, Robinson blasted from his second row starting position to grab the early lead in the Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship race. He had pulled out a seven-second gap by the end of the race to win comfortably overall and take class A1 honours.

Also victorious was fellow Stockton driver Martyn Lightfoot, who claimed a class F win in his Sylva Striker Ford, while former bike racer Dave Bone from Durham posted second in class A2 in his Vauxhall-powered Westfield.

Guisborough's Dave Pearson emerged with third in class E in his radical 1200cc Kawasaki-engined Formula 27 after Heighington driver Malcolm Turnbull had blown the engine on his Westfield Megabusa late in the race.

In the preceding race for the same championship, Hartlepool veteran Mick Starkey took the class D win despite a trailing exhaust system on his Ford Fiesta, just ahead of Darlington driver Guy Blumer in his Ford Escort.

Hartlepool's Gavin Lee claimed fifth in his XR2, but fellow Pool runner Darren Flounders retired on lap six in his sister car, three laps before Darlington's Terry Wright joined him on the sidelines after suffering engine problems in his Rover 100.

David Cox from Darlington took his Honda Civic to fourth in class C, while Bishop Middleham driver Les Cowburn ended up retiring his Porsche 924 at half distance in the same category.

Class B proved a real scrap with Stockton's David Botterill emerging as best local in eighth place in his Porsche 924, one place ahead of Darlington driver Ryan Upson in his Rover Tomcat.

Yarm's Eddie Falkous claimed 11th in his venerable three-litre Austin Healey, with Heighington driver Jean Birkett finishing a couple of laps adrift in 13th in her Rover Tomcat. Tony Barrett from Stockton went out on lap five in his BMW M3.

Elsewhere, local interest centred on Guisborough's Alyn Robson and Sacriston veteran Fred Henderson in the Porsche 924 Championship. Robson claimed a fine third place in Saturday's race with Henderson back in ninth, but that was as good as it got for the pair as they both retired from Sunday's race.

John Pringle from Bishop Auckland was also in action on both days in the Lotus Road Sports Series, taking runner-up spot in class C2 in his Lotus Seven Series 4 on both occasions, while Ripon's John Slater was third in class in the Jaguar Saloon race in his XJ40.