RIPON’S Charlie Payne added the MEM Malton Forest Rally to his list of successes when he and Welsh co-driver Carl Williamson won the event by just two seconds ahead of defending champions Stephen Petch and Michael Wilkinson after a day of high-speed drama in the classic North Yorkshire forests.

Payne was fastest out of the blocks in his Ford WRC-derived Fiesta, setting quickest time by nine seconds on the opening stage in Cropton ahead of Hamsterley resident Petch and Wilkinson, from Crook, in their WD-40-backed Ford Fiesta R5 Plus. Teesside businessman Peter Stephenson and Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress tied with Petch as their ABLE UK-supported Ford Focus WRC made it a three-way battle for the lead.

Stephenson pulled a second back after stopping the clocks fastest on SS2 in Staindale as Payne and Petch tied for second. In both Langdale and Spiers, both Petch and Payne beat the bogey time, meaning the gap remained at eight seconds going into the penultimate stage in Dargate. It was here, in the depths of Dalby Forest, that Petch made his move and closed to within two seconds of the lead as Payne could only manage third fastest time behind Stephenson.

It meant the final stage in Langdale would prove decisive and the leading crews beat the bogey and were all accredited with the same minimum time. That meant Payne's crucial two-second lead remained and he was crowned the winner back at the Adderstone Field finish ahead of Petch, who was ten seconds ahead of Stephenson.

Ripon’s Matthew Robinson and co-driver Sam Collis took seventh overall and second in class in their Historic-specification Ford Escort Mk2, one place ahead of the Ford Fiesta RS2000 of Scorton’s Steve Petch and Exelby co-driver John Richardson. Ninth overall went to Thirsk’s Mat Smith and Barnard Castle co-driver Giles Dykes in their 1400cc Proton Satria, taking an easy class win into the bargain.

Northallerton driver Charlie Taylor and Kirkbymoorside co-driver Alan Ward brought their Ford Escort Mk2 home 17th overall and sixth in the Historic class, while Thirlby’s Ben Cree and co-driver Chris Row claimed second in class and 25th overall in their 1600cc Peugeot 205.

Darlington driver Mike Williams and co-driver Steve Perry, from Bishop Auckland, claimed 28th overall in their SGP Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, five places ahead of Potto’s Keith Davison and Ripon co-driver Henry Richardson in their Hillman Avenger, which took second in class.

Topcliffe’s Nick Kitching was 35th in his Ford RS2000, while Pickhill co-driver Chris Pattison was one place behind in the Ford Escort he was sharing with Graham Haigh. Northallerton driver John Tillett and Thirsk co-driver Guy Kirby brought their Ford Escort home 40th overall and eighth in class, four places ahead of the Escort Mexico of Teessiders Michael Thornton and Dave Scrimgour.

Hartburn co-driver Ian Jackson guided Peter Ellerby’s little Morris Mini to 49th overall and a class win, while Hambleton farmers Amanda Cornforth-Smith and her dad Derek claimed 50th overall and fourth in class in their Ford Ka.

NORTHALLERTON Enduro rider Robbie Wallace competed in the final two rounds of the North-East Enduro Championship at Duncombe Park, in Helmsley, on his Motoconnect and Putoline-backed Husqvarna 125.

The course consisted of a 14-mile loop run four times on the Saturday and three times on the Sunday.

Wallace set off at 10am looking for a good result to secure the championship. A steep hill climb at about the 12-mile mark would later become a problem for some less experienced riders, but Wallace took it in his stride.

The teenager was in first position by 10 seconds after three laps, but he slid off on a large log on the last special test and lost 19 seconds, dropping to second-placed clubman on the day.

Wallace was again quick out of the blocks the next day. Digging deep and thinking about the last-minute slip the day before, he pressed on and attacked the special test with vigour. The persistence paid off and Wallace took the clubman award and his second title of the 2015 season.

AGAIN confirming its popularity as one of the best single-venue events on the calendar, Northallerton Automobile Club’s Christmas Stages Rally, which takes place at Croft Circuit on Sunday, December 27, saw the entry rapidly fill up on the same day the regulations were issued last Monday, meaning very few places remain.

A host of top drivers from the region, as well as further afield, are already entered for the event, which is again sponsored by Swift Signs, of Leeming Bar. The 80 available places are close to being filled, but the organisers have reserved 10 entries as usual, which they will allocate at their discretion before issuing the final 90-car entry list in a month’s time.

Star drivers so far include multiple British champion Steve Perez (Ford Focus WRC), as well as local aces Ryan Champion (Subaru Impreza), Chris Birkbeck (Opel Ascona) and Paul Swift (Ford Escort Mk2).

The event usually attracts a bumper crowd to the North Yorkshire track and last year about 2,000 fans braved the wintry conditions. Further details can be found at northallerton-ac.co.uk and croftcircuit.co.uk.