With less than a week to go before entries officially close, the penultimate round of the 2014 Autosport International BTRDA Rallycross Championship at Croft Circuit looks set for another bumper entry with around 60 cars, including some top drivers, planning on competing.

The event, on Sunday November 16th, will see leading European Championship driver Kevin Procter, from nearby Leeming, in action once again in his new Ford Fiesta Supercar. Procter encountered some teething problems at last month's British Championship round at Croft, and whilst not registered for the championship, he'll be doing battle with other Supercar drivers including the Subarus of Simon Horton and Gary Pusey as well as former National Champion Andy Grant who is expected to make the long trip up from Devon in his Ford Focus.

Making a welcome return to the sport after a year out is colourful 'Mad' Mark Watson who will be in action in his revamped Citroen Xsara Supercar. The Barnard Castle hotelier has had lots of good results around his local track and is again expected to feature well, especially with a new sponsor to be revealed on the run up to the event.

The various two-wheel drive classes are well represented and will see both the series regulars and title front runners, many of whom are local to Croft, doing battle with a host of other drivers as they bid for championship glory.

Aycliffe's Chris Harper leads the Overall Championship in his Citroen Saxo as well as in the Production class whereas Northallerton Peugeot 206 drivers Guy Corner and Larry Carter hold the advantage in the 2000cc and 1600cc SuperModified series respectively. Irishman Kieran Curran in his ultra-rapid 1600cc Vauxhall Corsa will again be the man to beat in the SuperModified class but with the likes of newly-crowned Super 1600 British Champion Jack Thorne (Citroen C2), the powerful RWD Corsa of Devonian Allan Tapscott and Barnard Castle's Brian Jukes in his diesel-powered Audi TT, it's anyone's guess who will emerge victorious.

Other local drivers include Bedale's Colin Ramsay (Peugeot 205), Martin Peters from Ingleby Barwick (Citroen Saxo), Stokesley driver Ian Horn (Vauxhall Nova) and Northallerton's Darren Grimston (Suzuki Swift). And with a number of other top drivers still expected to enter by Thursday's closing date, including Dave and Paige Bellerby from Northallerton in their Lotus Exiges, Bedale's Joe Cunningham (Peugeot 106), Hartlepool driver Des Wheatley in his iconic Rover Metro and Durham driver Lance Foster's Mini, it has all the makings of a fantastic meeting.

Shoppers in Darlington town centre will have the chance to get up close and personal when the organisers will have a selection of cars on display and drivers to meet next weekend.

From 12 noon until 4pm on Saturday 8th November, local ace 'Mad' Mark Watson will be on hand along with his 550bhp Citroen Xsara Supercar. He'll be joined by Guy Corner and his Peugeot 206 as well as Bryan Jukes and his Audi TT. The display will also see Darlington and District Motor Club in attendance who will have information about the meeting.

On the evening of Saturday 15th November, there will be the BTRDA Dinner and 2015 Championship launch which will take place at Jersey Farm Hotel near Barnard Castle whereby all drivers, teams, spectators and marshals are invited to attend. Tickets for the carvery meal are strictly limited and cost from £13.50 so early booking is advisable. Transport is available from and back to Croft and for further details, please contact Mark Watson 01833 638223 or email: mark@jerseyfarm.co.uk

Any drivers who haven't received an entry form or require further information are asked to contact John Rook via email at clubmansrallycross@yahoo.co.uk or Terry Wright of organisers, Darlington & District Motor Club, on 07771 514285. Entries officially close on Thursday 6th November.

Adult admission to Croft Circuit, just off the A168 five miles south of Darlington, on Sunday 16th November costs just £10 for adults with accompanied children under 15 free. Parking is free also and action commences at 9.30am. For further information please visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk as well as www.croftcircuit.co.uk

Pic Tony Todd

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