THE forests around Helmsley and the Duncombe Park will be full of burning rubber on Sunday as the ABLE Uk Riponian Rally takes place.

Jointly organised by Ripon MotorSport Club and Whitby & District Motor Club, the rally is based at Thirsk Auction Mart and this year will see a ceremonial start from Ripon Market Place before the 70 crews head towards the forests on the western edge of the North York Moors.

New stages are planned for this year with two stages running in the Duncombe Park estate. One of the stages has never been run before and the other has not been used for ten years.

This is the main spectator area with the first car due at 9.30am, the crews returning for another run through at 1.30pm.

Dave Scrimgour, chairman of the Whitby club said: “This rally is now one of only three local forest rallies still being run in the North East.

“Once again we have very generous backing from title sponsor Peter Stephenson of ABLE UK, and Matthew Robinson of Robinson Roadplaning.

“Without this generosity the rally would not be viable. Both Peter (the 2014 winner) and Matthew also compete, at the highest standard it must be said, supporting the event twofold.

“Thanks also go to Ripon City Council for their support in hosting the start of the rally at the Market Place, giving spectators chance to get up close to the rally cars and talk to the crews.”

The rally, won last year by Ripon dairy farmer Charlie Payne, offers the crews ten stages in total and 40 miles of fast technical forest tracks.

The first car will be flagged away at about 8.30am from the Market Place.

For more details, visit http://www.riponmotorsportclub.co.uk/riponian-stages-rally.