Former Winners Set For Jack Frost Stages Rally 2012
As entries continue to arrive on a daily basis, already the names of two former winners will be on the start line when Darlington and District Motor Club’s Jack Frost Stages Rally gets underway at Croft Circuit later this month.
Triple winner from the last three years, Paul Bird, will be travelling over from his Cumbria base but the Penrith Superbike team boss is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding which car he will wheel out on the event sponsored by fuel conversion specialists Autogas 2000 as well as specialist motorsport PR company Cartersport on Sunday 22nd January 2012.
The former National Champion is undecided whether to bring his 2007-specification Ford Focus WRC or to debut his recently-built Ford Escort Mk2 but either way, he’ll face stiff opposition including another ex winner, Dave Holland. The Leek driver won the event back in 2001 and returns for the first time in many years to try to challenge for another victory in his rapid 2.1 litre Ford Escort Mk2.
Also included in the early entries are the drivers who finished second and third overall on the recent Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally. Bishop Auckland youngster Chris Anderson took a career best runner-up placing in his 2000cc Ford Fiesta where he was followed home by Darlington stunt driver Paul Swift in his Ford Escort Mk2. Swift finished third on last season’s Jack Frost and will be hoping for a repeat of that result this year.
Two other former winners are also hoping to be on the entry list as three-times winner Tony Bardy and event sponsor Chris Wise, a twice winner, are facing a race against time to get their cars ready. Both missed the Christmas Stages but Bardy’s Nissan Sunny and the iconic MG Metro 6R4 of event sponsor Wise would be welcome additions.
Remarkably, despite winning the Christmas Stages three times in the past four years, Croft specialist Kevin Procter has yet to add his name to the Jack Frost trophy and the Leeming ace is considering an entry in order to try to put that right this year now the event doesn’t clash with the Autosport International Show whereby Procter has had commitments there in the past.
The event will again comprise up to eight stages totalling around 40 stage miles on the tarmac of the North East’s only permanent race track and will be a qualifying round of the AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship 2012, Fuchs Titan ANCC Stage Championship 2012 and the SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship 2012.
Scrutineering and documentation take place the same day as the event from 06:00 with the first car starting at 09.15. There are classes for cars up to 1400cc, up to 1600cc, up to 2000cc, over 2000cc and all four wheel-drive cars as well as pre-1981 classic rally cars. The entry fee has been pegged at £195 and the final closing date is Thursday 12th January 2012.
For further information, please contact Terry Wright on 01325 359895 (before 21.00), or via email at chair@darlington-motor-club.org.uk.
Regulations and entry forms are now available at www.darlington-motor-club.org.uk.
Picture attached: Paul Swift has finished third on the last two rallies at Croft (picture courtesy of Tony Todd)