RALLYING returns to Croft Circuit this Sunday when the Swift Signs & Shirts Christmas Stages Rally takes place with a top-quality entry assembled at the North Yorkshire track.

After a break of a year, organisers Northallerton Automobile Club have attracted 86 cars for the event, with a host of national champions set to take on a strong local contingent over eight stages.

Leading the way is triple and reigning BTRDA champion Elliot Payne in his Ford Fiesta Rally2, who is making his debut in the event. Along with co-driver Liam Whiteley, the young Harrogate driver will be the man to beat, but he faces stiff opposition from a number of rivals.

Triple British Rallycross champion and 2024 European Rallycross champion Patrick O’Donovan will be in action in a Ford Escort Mk2 with local Richmond co-driver Sam Clennel on the maps, while his dad, Ollie, is no stranger to Croft from his Rallycross days and the former British champion will also be in action in a Hyundai i20R5.  

Former National rally champions John Stone (Ford Escort) and Steve Hill (Mitsubishi) have enjoyed success at Croft over the years, so too a strong Scottish contingent headed by Joe McKeand and Lee Hastings (Subaru). The likes of David White (Ford Fiesta R5), Mike English (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Mark Holmes (Ford Fiesta R5) should also be in the mix.

However, local crews will also have a major say in the outcome, headed by eight-time winner Kevin Procter from Scruton. Along with Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress in a Ford Fiesta S2000, Procter will be aiming to land the winner’s trophy which he last claimed in 2018.

Team-mate and nephew, Joe Cunningham, from Aiskew, will be hoping to improve on his third place at the 2022 event in the Ford Fiesta S2000 he is sharing with Bedale’s Josh Beer, while in the smaller classes, local hopes are abundant.

Witton Gilbert driver Ed Todd and Durham co-driver Andy Brown are favourites for the two-litre class in their Darrian T9 but will face stiff opposition from Mickleton’s Alistair Hutchinson and Staindrop co-driver St. John Dykes in their Renault Clio.

Northallerton duo Dave Bellerby and Callum Spoors hope to have their Ford Escort fixed after a problem at Cadwell Park last weekend, while in the 1400cc class, it will be the usual battle between Catterick’s Mark Constantine, with brother Andrew on the notes in their Vauxhall Corsa, and the Durham pairing of Andrew Fawcett/Chris Purvis in their Vauxhall Nova.     

North Yorkshire brothers Tom and Luke Constantine will be debuting a pair of Opel Adam R2s in the 1600cc class with 2024 MG3 Challenge champion Luke, with Richmond’s Antony Coates co-driving, and MG3 Challenge runner-up Tom, with Mickleton co-driver Tony Walker on the notes, renewing battle.

Spennymoor’s Steve Sawley, and co-driver Rob Johnson, head Class 4 in their powerful Ford Escort, while an international flavour is provided by Jamaican Tarik Minott with Saltburn’s Neil Colman on the maps in their Ford Fiesta Rally2.

Gates open at 8am on Sunday, with the first stage getting underway at 9am and the action running throughout the day with the final couple of stages expected to be in darkness.

There will be commentary, catering and an event programme is on sale, with the majority of free car parking on hard standing.

Adult admission costs £13 via e-ticket, which are available at www.croftcircuit.co.uk, or on the gate priced at £15 per adult. Accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free.