Procter takes eighth croft christmas win

After going two years without a victory on their home event, local aces Kevin Procter and Dave Bellerby returned to winning ways when they emerged triumphant in Northallerton Automobile Club’s Christmas Stages Rally at Croft Circuit.

Runners-up last year, the pairing overcome the tricky damp conditions early on to win all eight stages for an eighth win in total on the festive event.

Once the early challenge from 2016 winners Guy Smith/patrick Walsh (Ford Fiesta R5+) and Tony Bardy/tony Walker (Ford Focus WRC) ended in both crews suffering mechanical problems after SS2, no one else got a look in as Procter eased to victory.

As the milder conditions allowed the track to dry, he eased 22s ahead after SS2 and the gap extended to 44 seconds over Peter Smith/graham Wild (Fiesta RS WRC) by the half-time turnaround following SS4.

Peter Smith valiantly equalled Procter on SS6, but it was to no avail as darkness fell, Procter upped the pace again to stamp his authority on proceedings in his S2000 car with a turbo engine.

Smith claimed second ahead of Gordon Morrison with stunt driver Paul Swift fourth. A late charging Peter Stephenson/ian Windress (Subaru) jumped the Escort of Mark Jasper/don Whyatt for fifth. Class 1 was won by Mark/andrew Constantine (Vauxhall Corsa), Des Campbell/craig Forsyth (Peugeot 206) took Class 2 and in Class 3, Edward Todd/andy Brown (GTM Coupe) took the win. Swift won Class 4 with Stephenson doing likewise in Class 5.