CROFT Circuit will be turning back the clock to the golden era of rallying when it hosts two stages of the Roger Albert Clark Rally next month.

The RAC started in 2004 with just a few dozen cars, but this year 100 applied for entry.

The event, between December 2 and 5, is for historic two-wheel drive cars, predominantly from the 1970s and 80s, and starts in North Yorkshire before taking in County Durham, Cumbria and Scotland.

It is named after Roger Clark, the most successful rally driver of the era, and regularly attracts thousands of spectators, bringing an estimated 1m into the economy.

Croft, near Darlington, plays host on December 3 and marks the only time the rally ventures onto the track. It also allows motorsport fans to get up close and personal to the drivers and their cars as it is used as the service area.

"It is really just to have a change of surface," said the RAC's Steve Higgins. "The cars are predominantly set up for gravel. Put them on tarmac and you get something completely different. We try and have at least one tarmac stage inbetween all the gravel stages.

"Last year, we used Oliver's Mount in Scarborough, but being able to come back to Croft and put in a real tarmac stage will sort the men from the boys."

Among the marques looking to make it from start to finish are several evolutions of Ford Escort, Saabs, Porsches and a Lancia Fulvia.

"These cars have found a renaissance in historic rallying," said Higgins. "From a driver's point of view it's the opportunity to drive cars that are mechanically quite simple, but great fun to throw around. They are lightweight, predominantly rear-wheel drive, so you will see a lot of drivers sliding them around, it's all about car control."

A man whose car control is second to none is David Stokes, British Historic Rally Champion for the past two years.

The Gloucestershire baker cum rally driver could be the man to beat in his Ford Escort RS1600.

"I am 65 soon and I would say I am driving as well now as I have ever driven in my life," said the former works driver. "I am not just saying that myself, the results are there to prove it.

"The experience helps, you know where not to do something.

"You just keep going and battling away. Being consistent. A lot of these boys are very, very quick for five minutes and then have two minutes of bad and another five minutes of brilliance. That's not good, you need to consistent."

Stokes said with cars of this vintage it was important to look after them and not abuse them like you can modern rally cars, but that said, he will not be holding back.

"You have got to go pretty quick from day one. It's no good hanging back thinking you can pull it back because once they are away from you they are away," he said. "A rally like this is always going to be a lottery because we don't run on notes, we are only running on maps. Not every bend is on the map, so you may have to do a bit of quick-thinking and you always need a bit of luck.

"If you go in somewhere too quick and it's the wrong bend your luck's out and you're out."

Entry is £10 and for more details visit http://www.croftcircuit.co.uk/croft/news/racrally.html or call 01325-721815.