HISTORY rallied to a repeat of itself for the motor-mad Pulleyn family.

Lifelong York Motor Club member and retired York British Rail employee Peter Williams teamed up with teenager Josh Pulleyn to compete in the Christmas Stages Rally at Croft Race Circuit, organised by Northallerton Automobile Club.

It was an axle axis of contrasting experience with Rufforth-based Williams aged 67 and his co-driver and navigator Pulleyn who is just 16 years old and an ‘A’-level student at York College.

Coincidentally the senior partner was a driver alongside Josh’s dad Jonathan, a former driver and co-driver himself, as well as a lifelong York Motor Club member.

Williams and Pulleyn senior competed as a team between 1976 and 1982, and later between 2003 and 2006. Jonathan Pulleyn came third in this event as a co-driver in 1982 and his son Josh has now taken over the maps, clocks and organisation in the role of co-driver.

The Sheriff Hutton-based teenager and Williams competed in a historic Ford Escort MkII 1600 in Class 2, of which there were 21 entries out of a total rally entry field of 81 competitors. The Christmas Stages was Williams’ comeback as a driver after a 45-year gap.

His last rally as a driver was 1967 – The Seven Dales Rally – when he crashed out early, after a successful driving career. In the intervening years, he has been a successful co-driver and organiser of many rallies, including the York National Rally.

The new pairing battled beyond mechanical problems and wet, slippery conditions to enjoy a great day’s rallying and provide a spectacle for fans. However, a fuel starvation problem denied them a finish.

The pair hope to compete in local forest rally events during 2013.

Other York MC competitors were Ian Young and Tracey Cook in a Peugeot 309 GTi, and Wayne Smith in a Corsa 1600.