THE region is gearing up for one of the biggest events on the Autograss calendar when the Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club hosts the H&T Trailers Men’s National Autograss Championships this weekend.

The permanent track at Thornborough, seven miles south of Bedale, will host over 400 of the best Autograss racers to do battle in the various classes over the two days.

Lots of local drivers will by vying for honours around the 300-metre oval track in 11 classes, from standard Stock Hatch cars right the way through to the ultra-powerful, twin-engined class seven Super Saloons and the mighty class ten open-wheeled Specials.

These include Northallerton’s Andy Dockray in class one and Yorkshire Dales overall club champion for 2021, Ben Fiddler, in car YD1.

Aldborough’s Chris Allanson contests class three along with son Callum, from Yarm, while in class four, Darlington’s John Fishwick is in action along with James Almack, who lives just half a mile from the Thornborough track near West Tanfield.

The class seven super saloons boast big names throughout the entry including current national champion, Andy Holtby (SC61), in his rapid Chevvy LS3-powered Mini pick-up.

He is expected to face a stiff challenge from local hope Andy Jefferson, from Pateley Bridge, who is also flying this year and proving that Autograss is very much a family sport.

Andy’s dad, Roger, has also qualified for this year’s nationals in his class nine, having battled some very serious health conditions.

Tickets cost £15 per day for adult admission, with 12 to 15-year-olds and senior citizens being charged £5 per day.