THE long-running British Trials and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA) Rally Series is poised to return to North Yorkshire for the first time in more than 25 years.

The REIS – Get Connected-sponsored championship will stage its penultimate round over 45 competitive miles of prime Ryedale forest gravel stages on Saturday, September 28.

Cropton, Gale Rigg, Staindale, Dalby and Langdale will be the scene of the Trackrod Forest Stages Rally which will run concurrently but as a completely separate event to the two-day Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.

The Trackrod includes the MSA British Rally Championship and the Trackrod Historic Cup, the final round of the West Wales Rally Spares RAC which counts towards the Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championships.

The route will start and finish in Pickering, with scrutineering, central servicing and post-rally festivities taking place at the town’s Showground complex.

Clerk of the Course Rod Parkin said: “We are really delighted to have the BTRDA back as the rounds of their championship seem to epitomise what rallying is, or certainly used to be, all about – fun and enjoying some excellent and challenging stages.

“It seemed appropriate to resurrect the name Trackrod Forest Stages Rally as that was what the rally was called the last time our event was a part of the BTRDA series.

“There will be no double usage of any of the five stages and the rally will end with Langdale which, at over 15 miles, is the longest stage of the entire weekend and potentially a sting in the tail.

“We can assure all competitors, whatever event they take part in and whatever their hopes and aspirations, the same hearty Yorkshire welcome.”

The Trackrod Forest Stages Rally also forms a round of four regional championships, ensuring a significant entry of local enthusiasts pitting their skills against the BTRDA series regulars.

Regulations and entry forms for all events are expected to be out in July.