Bird plans next flight at Jack Frost Stages

Paul Bird. Image: Copyright Jonathan MacDonald

Darlington and District Motor Club are confident of a top quality field when the Autogas 2000 Jack Frost Stages Rally supported by Cartersport takes place at Croft Circuit on Sunday 20th January 2013.

As with many events these days, entries were slow to start off with but in the past few days, a steady stream has started to arrive.

The event which will again comprise up to eight stages totalling around 45 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 2013, Fuchs Titan Race ANCC Stage Rally Championship 2013 and the SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship 2013.

So far, some of the UK’s top drivers will be bringing a wide range of exotic machinery to do battle including John Stone in his Skoda Fabia WRC and the iconic MG Metro 6R4 of former double winner Chris Wise along with a similar cars driven by Simon Chapman and Mark Jasper.

But the man they will have to beat is Penrith BSB and MotoGP boss Paul Bird who has won the event for the past four years and is planning on going for win number five in his ex works Ford Focus WRC07. Birdy doesn’t plan too many outings in 2013 due to his other commitments so is hoping to make the most of the rally at his local track.

The two-wheel drive battle looks to be a mouth-watering affair already with Christmas Stages top five finisher Ian Woodhouse returning in his Ford Escort whereas local club champion Paul Swift hopes to make up for the disappointment of a Christmas Stages stage one retirement when he returns in his Ford Escort.

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 is £210 and the final closing date is Tuesday 8th January 2013 whereby any late entries will be allocated a sequential number and seeded on the day in an appropriate position.

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.