Star Studded Entry For Croft Rally
Rallying returns to Croft Circuit this forthcoming Sunday (24th November) 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 a near-capacity field of over eighty cars for the event including a host of national champions 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 on the event. Along with co-driver Liam Whiteley, the young Harrogate driver will be the man to beat but 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 whilst his dad Ollie is no stranger to Croft from his Rallycross days and the former British Rallycross champion will also be in action in the Hyundai i20R5 he’s sharing with Northallerton’s Callum Spoors.
Former National Rally champion, Lancastrian John Stone is a former winner at Croft and will be out in his Ford Escort whilst a strong Scottish contingent is headed by Joe McKeand and Lee Hastings, both in Subarus. David White (Ford Fiesta R5), Mike English (Ford Fiesta Rally2), Mark Holmes (Ford Fiesta R5) and Nigel Worswick (Ford Fiesta S2000T) will also be in the mix.
However, local crews will have a major say in the outcome, headed by eight-times winner Kevin Procter from Scruton. Along with Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress in the Ford Fiesta S2000, Procter will be aiming to land the winner’s trophy which he last claimed in 2018.
Team-mate Joe Cunningham from Aiskew will be hoping to improve on his third place at the 2022 event, this time at the wheel of the Ford Fiesta WRC loaned to him by his uncle Kevin for the event which he’ll share with Bedale’s Josh Beer, whilst in the smaller classes, local hopes are abundant.
Witton Gilbert driver Ed Todd and Durham co-driver Andy Brown are one of the favourites for the two-litre class in their Darrian T9 but will face stiff opposition including from Mickleton’s Alistair Hutchinson and Staindrop co-driver St. John Dykes in their LPG-powered Renault Clio Maxi.
In the 1400cc class, it will be the usual battle between Catterick’s Mark Constantine, with brother Andrew from North Cowton 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 whilst the international flavour is provided by Jamaican Tarik Minott with Saltburn’s Neil Colman on the maps in their Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Runner-up in the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB this year, Scorton’s Max Coates swaps his racing overalls to make his co-driving debut in Northallerton driver Larry Carter’s Peugeot 206 whilst other locals to keep an eye on include Brompton on Swale driver Geoff Wright (Ford Fiesta S2000), Mickleton pair David and Andrew Hutchinson (Renault Clio), South Kilvington publican Nick Kitching (Ford RS1800) and North Cowton brothers James and Ollie Constantine (Suzuki Swift) amongst many others.
Gates open at 8am with the first stage getting underway at 9am and running throughout the day with the final couple of stages expected to be in darkness. There will be full commentary, and an event programme is on sale. Extensive free parking is also available along with trade stalls and food outlets, which will be open throughout the day serving hot food and drinks.
BOOK CHRISTMAS RALLY TICKETS >>
Top Ten Entries
- Elliot Payne/Liam Whiteley Ford Fiesta Rally2
- Kevin Procter/Ian Windress Ford Fiesta S2000
- Joe Cunningham/Joshua Beer Ford Fiesta S2000
- David White/Paula Hannan Ford Fiesta R5
- Ollie O'Donovan/Callum Spoors Hyundai i20 R5
- Mike English/Lewis English Ford Fiesta Rally2
- Ed Todd/Andy Brown Darrian T9
- Mark Holmes/Jonathan Cragg Ford Fiesta R5
- Joe McKeand/Sarah Hall Subaru Impreza
- Nigel Worswick/Rachael Barker-Vaizey Ford Fiesta S2000T
Pictures courtesy of Tony Todd