STEVE BANNISTER, Trackrod Rally Yorkshire’s most successful driver, is bidding to rekindle three-decade old memories when he contests this year’s event.

At the two-day event on Friday and Saturday, Malton potato farmer Bannister will be partnered by former navigator Dave Oldfield, from Seamer, for the first time in 30 years.

The duo will compete in a 1975 Ford Escort Mk2, similar to the one they drove to victory in 1984, 1985 and 1988, as Bannister looks for his fourth successive victory in the Historic Cup.

Bannister and Oldfield were the first to win the Trackrod three times - an achievement only emulated by former Mintex National Champion Chris Mellors and Ripon dairy magnate Charlie Payne.

But the veteran North Yorkshireman has also tasted multiple success in the Trackrod National Rally and, more recently, dominated the two-day Trackrod Historic Cup, which shares top billing with, and runs alongside, the Trackrod Forest Stages Rally throughout Saturday.

Bannister won alongside Kevin Rae in 2015 and Callum Atkinson in 2016 and 2017, but was almost resigned to just watching the rally this time around.

“None of the two or three regular navigators I’ve used over the past ten or 15 years could do the rally this year so I hadn’t entered,” said Bannister, who remained close friends with Oldfield after his co-driver retired for medical reasons.

“Dave’s a lot better now and so we went testing in Cropton (Forest) last Thursday and afterwards, I said 'that went well, so you’d better do the Trackrod with me now.'

“He agreed, so after 30 years we are back together again.

“It’s a really good entry this year and what has made it better is that they (the organisers) are running the smaller Category 1 and Category 2 cars at the front. That’s a great idea because they don’t cut up the tracks like the bigger, more powerful cars.

“When they were running at the back of the field, the road was so badly chewed up by the time they got there that they were saying we don’t want to do this because it damages the car.

“This way it encourages more of the smaller cars to enter.”

Bannister’s Historic Cup bid begins in darkness on Friday with a 10.43-mile stage in Dalby forest in his trademark white Escort, with its red stripe down the centre of the roof and bonnet.

They will be giving the smaller vehicles a five-minute start before leading the more powerful group of favourites for overall victory off the start ramp, along Filey Beach Road from around 7pm on Friday and into Dalby for the opening test.

The following morning the Trackrod Forest Stages Rally contestants - many chasing points in the final round of the Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Rally Series - will join in for the other five stages, covering another 45 miles of forest action.

Dalby and Cropton will again provide the best spectator access, with refreshment and toilet facilities, while Woodyard will carry full commentary.

The 2018 edition of the Trackrod Rally, which has run almost continuously for over 40 years, also features as a round of numerous other national and regional title races.

Both the start and finish, from mid-afternoon on Saturday, are completely free to onlookers, who are encouraged to use the Woodyard and Housedale special spectator areas in Dalby (Saturday only) and Cropton (Spiers House).

For more details, visit: rallyyorkshire.co.uk, racrmc.org/british-historic-rally-championship/index, btrdarally.com, facebook.com/trackrodrallyyorkshire or Twitter: @rallyyorkshire.