RISING Scottish star David Bogie will bid to retain his title as yet another capacity entry contests the annual Specsavers of Middlesbrough Christmas Stages Rally at Croft Circuit.

The teenager from Dumfries has been hailed as Britain's brightest young prospect with comparisons being made with the late Colin McRae.

Once again, he will be at the wheel of the Oakbank Services MG Metro 6R4 for December 29 event, the car in which his father John just failed to win the popular Northallerton Automobile Club-organised event earlier in the decade.

Chasing Bogie and co-driver David Paterson will be local heroes, Kevin Procter from Leeming and Northallerton co-driver Dave Bellerby, who swap their respective rallycross cars to team up in the Procter's Coaches Subaru Impreza.

Both have sampled glory at Croft already this season and Procter will be looking to add the one major trophy which has so far eluded him in more than a decades racing to his collection.

Former British Championship works driver and 2005 Mitsubishi Cup Champion Ryan Champion, from Castleton, North Yorkshire, will be in action in an MSR Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer, while Pickhill's Chris Wise will be looking to repeat his Jack Frost Stages victory at Croft earlier this year as he takes to the wheel of his Autogas MG Metro 6R4.

The ladies are sure to get a look in with Thirsk's Carol Rosendale sitting with Champion and Tracey Taylor West from Pickhill accompanying Wise.

A third MG Metro 6R4 will be driven by national driver John Stone from Blackburn, who along with co-driver Lee Carter actually took victory at a Croft event a couple of years ago, only to be excluded on a technicality.

Five more Subaru Imprezas, of varying versions, complete the top ten of what is the best quality entry in years.

Alex Taylor returns in his Group A version with Geordie driver George Grieve also making a welcome return to Croft.

The World Rally Cars of Graham Coffey, Consett's Barry Renwick and John Marshall complete the top ten on the eight stage event.

In the two wheel drive class, Stockton driver Keith Davison is favourite in his Darrian T90 and he can expect tough opposition from Whitby driver Nick Cook (Ford Escort Mk1) and Masham butcher Richard Welford in his Ford Escort Mk2.

Other local drivers expected to do well on the event include Richmond driver Mark Constantine (Vauxhall Corsa), the Darlington pairing of David Jones and David Cox (Mitsubishi), event sponsor David Stockton from Middlesbrough (Subaru) and Saltburn brothers Ian and Neil Colman in their Nissan Sunny GTi-R.

Other locals to watch out for include Stanley's Phil Morton (Nissan Micra), Acklam driver Kevin Liddle (Subaru) and Jonathan Bean from Northallerton who will all be in action.

Durham driver Garry Johnson, Pickhill's Bill Bates (Peugeot 106), Darren Grimston from Northallerton (Ford Escort) and Bedale driver Andrew Auld (Peugeot) will also battle it out.

Catterick driver Chris Cole takes to the stages in his Vauxhall Nova, while Colin and Helen Elstrup, from nearby Scorton, will be in action in their Triumph GT6.

Whitby's Alan Hick and Saltburn co-driver Alison Colman will be competing in a Nissan Pulsar and the Teesside pairing of John and Martin Cockerill will be out in their historic Ford Escort.

Using all of the tarmac roads around the popular North-East venue, the event comprises rounds of the 2007 SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship and the 2008 Tyrespot North of England Tarmacadam Rally Championship. It covers 40 stage miles with a large crowd again expected as the first of the 90 cars gets underway.

Admission costs £8 per adult with accompanied children under-15 admitted free. Gates open at 8.30am.

For further information and detailed entry list please visit www.northallerton-ac.co.uk or contact Claire Jones at Croft Circuit on 01325-721815.