Darlington driver Guy Wilks took maximum points in the Ferodo Ford Puma Championship when he recorded a memorable victory on the Speyside Stages Rally last weekend.

Level on points and sharing the championship lead going into the Elgin-based event with Durham's David Henderson, Wilks and co-driver Clive Jenkins endured a traumatic day in the Scottish forests.

Henderson and his co-driver Ian Windress, from Northallerton, also hit problems and, in the end, it was teenager Wilks who emerged victorious.

On the opening two stages there was nothing to separate Wilks and Henderson in their identical 1400cc Ford Pumas and both crews headed off into the long Clashindarroch stage jointly leading the class.

Despite the unpredictable stage surface, the Wilks/Jenkins partnership stormed through some 12 seconds faster than Henderson and Windress, the latter pair suffering from worsening brake problems which thwarted their bid for much of the day.

Wilks eased the pace on stages four and five as worrying noises began to emanate from the Phillip Wilks-backed car, but still managed to increase his lead over Henderson by another second as the cars entered service, much to both crews' relief.

In the allocated half hour, the team eventually diagnosed a broken brake caliper on Wilks' car which caused him to clock out three minutes late, while the Breakdown Doctor team managed to get Henderson's brakes working again. The youngster responded by setting fastest time on SS6, some five seconds ahead of Wilks.

Henderson's problems recurred on the final couple of stages, which dropped him even more time, and Wilks had a close shave with a stricken car on the penultimate stage. He just managed to avoid disaster at over 80mph, but dropped 13 seconds to his main rival.

But it was Wilks who managed to hang on to claim the win by a mere 13 seconds over Lincoln driver Shaun Woffinden and Scotsman Mark Wheeler, with Henderson trailing home a disconsolate fourth.

Wilks also claimed the coveted Colin McRae Ladder of Opportunity award on the event to cap a fine performance.

Wilks now holds an important five-point lead over Henderson as the pair head back north to Dumfries for the Scottish Rally next weekend, resuming battle in round six of the eight round series.

Another driver taking a superb class victory was Scorton teenager Stephen Petch who, along with co-driver Michael Wilkinson, claimed the Ford Ka junior award for the first time this season.

Driving the SGP Motorsport car, the 17-year-old, on only his fifth event, put up an excellent performance in difficult conditions to finish fourth in the Ford Ka class and move up to fifth place overall in the series standings.

Shildon's Barry Johnson also emerged victorious from the event by taking a class victory in his Barrier Surveillance Subaru Impreza. The former moto-cross rider, co-driven as usual by Peter Croft from Middleton Tyas, was the first Englishman home in sixth place overall to win the open class.

It wasn't such good news for reigning British national champions Steve Petch (Scorton) and his Northallerton co-driver John Richardson, who were out for the first time in their newly-acquired Hyundai Accent WRC.

Following their monumental roll in the Ford Escort WRC in Wales last month, the pair were hoping for a good result, but a contretemps with a park bench on the opening stage damaged an oil pipe and they decided to retire in order not to risk damaging the engine as it leaked oil.

l Hutton Rudby rider Russ Hodgson continued his good recent form with another points-scoring ride in the British 125cc Championship at Brands Hatch last weekend.

The 20-year-old struggled with machine set-up during practice, but came good when it mattered in the race as he battled with half a dozen other riders for fifth place.

Hodgson, riding the Tillston's Honda, came home in ninth place to move inside the top ten of the standings with three rounds remaining.

Fresh from his superb 15th place at Cadwell Park recently, Leyburn's James Brackenbury put in another solid performance in the Junior Superstock race around the tricky Indy circuit.

The 17-year-old fitter posted 20th place aboard the Scott Leathers Yamaha R6 at the end of the 24-lap race, which was live on satellite TV.

Mark Burr from Darlington had a day of mixed fortunes aboard the Hawk Racing 750cc Kawasaki in the days two superbike races. In the opening race, Burr enjoyed a race-long battle with eight of his rivals, only to end up in fifth place in the Privateers class and 13th overall.

In race two, the 20-year-old crashed out at the high speed Clearways corner on lap five, but he still holds on to eighth place in the championship.

Two of the region's other riders were forced to sit out the action at Brands due to injuries sustained at Cadwell Park. Guisborough's Dennis Hobbs (shoulder) and David Gatenby from Ingleby Barwick (foot) hope to return when the championship visits Mallory Park in Leicestershire next weekend.

l Road racing legend Barry Sheene makes a welcome return to the Scarborough Gold Cup international road race meeting when he visits the Olivers Mount circuit later this month.

The former 500cc world champion - now living in Australia - will be leading parades of other racing heroes and machines on September 22 and 23.

In addition to the parades and a full programme of international races, there will be a Meet the Riders dance at The Spa on the Saturday night and A Night with Sheene at the Corner Complex on the Friday.

Further details are available from organiser Peter Hillaby on 01723 373000