THE successors to two-time British rally champion Jonny Milner could be on the Huggate driver's doorstep.

Ashley Simpson, who lives just across the Wolds in Fangfoss, is currently lying second in the junior British Rallycross Championship while his younger brother Russell has also just started competing at the age of 14.

Ashley, 16, borrowed overalls and boots from his hero Milner to compete in his first race two years ago.

Since then, he has made rapid progress and is now just nine points behind the leader of the 2005 series with five rounds out of eight completed.

The Woldgate School pupil would also like to emulate Milner eventually and test himself against the country's best senior drivers.

And should Ashley finish, as expected, in the top three of this year's series, he will be guaranteed a test drive in a Mitsubishi rally car.

"Being a rally driver is my dream and Russell's," Ashley said. "When I was a baby my first word was 'car' and I've been driving since I was five when my Dad got an old banger and adapted it so I could reach the pedals and see over the steering wheel.

"My dad was once British Autotest champion so I suppose it's in my blood!"

Having learned how to drive at the age of five on the Tarmac at Full Sutton Industrial Estate, Ashley competed for two years in local motocross events on a Honda motor cycle before he could receive a licence from the Motor Sports Association to race a car at the age of 14.

First, he tested himself against some of his father's former rivals and beat them all in short-course contests around bollards organised by York Motor Club.

Shortly afterwards, a family trip to the Birmingham NEC Motor Show saw Ashley grab a few leaflets on the Junior Rallycross Championships and he convinced his parents to buy him a mini and take to the grid.

The series sees 1000cc minis go bumper to bumper and door handle to door handle at speeds up to 70mph as 20 youngsters aged between 14 and 17 battle for supremacy.

Stages are held as far afield as the republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, South Wales and Scotland with Brands Hatch, Knockhill and Croft all on the racing calendar.

The events include a series of short, sharp races that normally average three minutes with Championship points decided by an overall final.

Andrew Jordan is currently leading Ashley in the standings but has the advantage of having his own team of mechanics while the Simpsons often work into the early hours carrying out car repairs and improvements.

"His dad isn't Eddie (Jordan) but he might as well be considering the amount of money he puts in," mum Paula says about Ashley's chief nemesis.

The Simpsons, meanwhile, compete on a tight budget that Ashley manages.

"It's teaching him the value of money if nothing else," Paula adds.

Entry fees for each race can be between £175 and £250 and have been generously covered this year by Simpson Auto Salvage in Full Sutton but other expenses include travel costs and car repairs and maintenance.

Replacing four tyres, alone, amounts to £240 and Ashley was recently unable to race at a recent European event in Holland because of financial restraints.

The Simpsons also find it hard to practice between races.

His closest championship track is in Lincolnshire while a session at nearby Tockwith would require money which, despite gardening and babysitting shifts, Ashley cannot spare and he would be delighted to hear from anybody willing to help with the estimated £3,000 annual costs on 01759 368573.

"Unless I get some sponsorship my career may end here," Ashley pointed out.

Updated: 11:46 Thursday, August 18, 2005