MENTION the name of Steve Petch in rallying circles and most people will point you to the long-established motor dealer from Scorton who, among a string of other successes, claimed the 2000 Mintex National Rally Championship in his Ford Escort World Rally Car.

But there is another Steve Petch, also from Scorton, about to launch a career in rallying and become the latest member of the successful rallying family to take to the stages.

Stephen Petch junior (pictured right) is Steve's son and, at just 17, he's preparing to tackle his first competitive event next weekend.

Despite only leaving school last summer and passing his driving test just over a month ago, Stephen, who works as a motor vehicle technician at his father's Darlington premises, will be taking the wheel of the Richie Windress-prepared Ford Ka in the popular one-make series which gets underway on Merseyside next Saturday.

With the foot-and-mouth crisis badly affecting forest rallying, Stephen has had to wait for his first competitive outing. Even now, with the cars still not able to venture into the countryside, he has to make do with a tarmac event around the New Brighton promenade which forms the Rally of Wirral, as opposed to the gravel roads of Kielder Forest which was originally scheduled.

Nonetheless, the youngster is eagerly awaiting the event, having tested the Ka at Ford's headquarters at Boreham in Essex last week.

Although he was among more experienced drivers, Stephen came away in a positive frame of mind, having learned a lot on his first outing on mixed surfaces.

Not that Stephen is a stranger to the world of rallying in any way. He has been a regular fixture on events for many years as part of his father's back-up team.

Co-driving for Stephen on his first event will be the experienced John Richardson of Northallerton, who partnered Petch senior to the Mintex crown last season.

Although not used to the relatively slow speeds and narrow confines of the Ford Ka, Richardson will provide much-needed experience and guidance to get Stephen to the finish of his first event.

But the team are on the look-out for a regular co-driver for Stephen, someone of a similar age and with limited experience so that the pair can learn their trade together.

Stephen said: "Hopefully, the nerves will be fine on the day but I'm still feeling apprehensive. I felt better after testing the car and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I'm under strict instructions from my dad to get to the finish so hopefully John will help me do that."

Not only will his father be keeping a special eye on him on his first event, so too will sister Samantha, herself an established rally driver who will no doubt be encouraging Stephen to do well to add some spice to the family rivalry.

Sam now drives a four-wheel drive Subaru Impreza although she, like Stephen, started out in the less powerful one-make series, which is a proven breeding ground for success.

All the cars are virtually identical and the series is strictly policed to ensure fair competition. With a generous prize fund, it attracts a lot of up-and-coming drivers.

Last year these included Guy Wilks from Bishop Auckland, who has since progressed onto the World Championship stage.

This year's series has been comprehensively revised due to the lack of forest rallying available and now includes two Rallysprints at the Silverstone and Cardiff circuits, as well as the more traditional events later in the year when hopefully the foot-and-mouth situation has eased sufficiently to allow a return to normal.

Ford Ka Rally Championship scheduled events. - May 12: The Rally of Wirral; June 9: Silverstone Rallysprint; July 21: The Pirelli Carlisle Rally; August 11: Cardiff Rallysprint; Sept 15: The Scottish Rally; Sept 29: The York Rally; Oct 13: The Rally of Kent; Nov 11: The Oxford Rally.

l Motor sport enthusiasts can take their pick of the action this weekend with the Auto 66 club hosting their annual Festival of Speed at the Oliver's Mount complex on the outskirts of Scarborough over the bank holiday.

Tomorrow and Sunday, both bikes and cars will be competing in various hill climb classes with action getting underway at 10am on both days.

Then on Monday it's the turn of the circuit racers who will be competing for the National Motorcycle Clubman's Cup and Sidecar Masters Series around the infamous closed-roads circuit. Practice is from 8.30am, with racing getting underway at 12.30.

More details available online at www.auto66.com or from the event's hotline on 01723 500653.