Rally aces turn up heat for Jack Frost Stages (From York Press)

Rally aces turn up heat for Jack Frost Stages

10:56am Wednesday 18th January 2012 in Motorsport

A HOST of North Yorkshire drivers are descending on Croft Circuit this weekend for the Jack Frost Stages Rally.

Malton Motor Club send a five-strong contingent to the county’s premier race track to join a field of more than 70 cars competing over eight timed special stages on Sunday.

The club are represented by Thornton-le-Dale’s Jonathan Finch, in his BMW 318is, Pickering-based Mat Smith, in a Ford Ka, Subaru Impreza driver Jon Trenholme and Andrew Smith, piloting a Ford Escort RS2000.

York’s Philip Welch is also making the journey north to compete in his VW Golf kit car.

Ripon Motor Club boasts four entrants in Mitsubishi Evo 9 driver Geoff Simpson, Shaun Wilson, in his Subaru Impreza, Ford Escort Mk2 driver Rob Herrington and Paul Alsop, in a Chrysler Sunbeam.

Whitby duo Ian Horn, in a Vauxhall Nova GTE, and Ian Stuart Bate, driving a Mitsubishi Evo 9, are also in the field.

Meanwhile, two-time former winner Chris Wise is bidding for a third victory.

The Thirsk-based Metro 6R4 driver, who won the event in 2007 and 2008, will be looking to end the three-year winning run of Penrith’s Paul Bird in the Darlington & District Motor Club rally.

The eight stages will be held on a variety of configurations within the Croft Circuit boundaries. The action is scheduled to start just after 9am.

Tickets cost £10 per adult (payable on the gate) with admission for children aged 15 and under free all day.

For more information, visit the website www.croftcircuit.co.uk or phone 01325 721815.