This weekend’s Jack Frost Stages Rally, which takes place at Croft Circuit on Sunday 7th December 2025, has attracted a high-quality and capacity entry with plenty of local interest.

The last time the Darlington & District Motor Club event ran was back in 2020 when Kevin Procter from nearby Scruton took victory in his Ford Fiesta S2000 and whilst he has been a multiple winner on the corresponding Northallerton Automobile Club Christmas and Winter Stages Rallies over the past two decades at Croft, that 2020 success on the Jack Frost remains his only one to date on this event.

Procter is back again this year as the number one seed to try to add to that success behind the wheel of the venerable Ford Fiesta S200T which he is sharing with Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress but perhaps favourite for the win is another car out of the Procter Motorsport stable, that of Kevin’s nephew, Joe Cunningham.

Cunningham, from Leeming Bar, along with Bedale co-driver Josh Beer, won the Swift Signs & Shirts Winter Stages Rally at Croft last year in their Ford Fiesta WRC and arrive at this year’s event in a rich vein of form having taken the victory at the Neil Howard Stages Rally at Oulton Park earlier this month.

However, there is a strong challenge coming from a number of the country’s leading asphalt rally regulars and indeed stars of the world stage, headed by former British and European Rallycross champion Patrick O’Donovan. The London-based Irishman will be behind the wheel of his factory-specification Hyundai i20 R5 and is seeded at number three, just ahead of Scotsman Alan Carmichael who could well be the man to beat in his Skoda R5.

Away at number five and chasing his son two cars in front will be motorsport legend Ollie O’Donovan in the second of the team’s Hyundai i20 R5s. Ollie is no stranger to Croft having clinched the British Rallycross title there a number of years ago and he’ll be guided by Scotland’s Ashleigh Morris after she jumps over from the driver’s seat of her Ford Fiesta on Saturday’s Grizedale Stages.

After a couple of years out of the sport, County Durham’s Ian Bainbridge makes a welcome return behind the wheel of a VW Polo R5 which he shares with Staindrop co-driver St John Dykes whilst former bike racer and Circuit Rally Championship regular Kiaran Hankin will be out in his Citroen C3.

County Durham crew Chris Thompson and Pete Gibson are seeded at eight in their Ford Fiesta R2 prepared by Northallerton-based experts Motoscope whilst the immaculate and unusual Porsche GT3 of Yorkshire’s Craig Pennington/Wayne Priest is at number nine.

The top ten is completed by Scottish youngsters Joe McKeand and Charlotte McDowall in their Subaru Impreza but there is a strong contingent of other local drivers throughout the field aiming for success over the eight stages throughout the day.

In the two-wheel drive class, local drivers who are expected to go well include Northallerton’s Dave Bellerby (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2), Steve Sawley from Spennymoor in his 2.4-litre version whilst Mickleton’s Alistair Hutchinson is a potential class winner, with daughter Emma on the maps, in their Renault Clio Maxi. Another father and daughter team include Bishop Auckland pair Mark and Hannah Thompson in their Peugeot 206 whilst Northallerton sisters Paige and Drew Bellerby will share their recently acquired Mitsubishi Evo 9.

Richmond brothers Luke and Tom Constantine will be in action in their 1600cc Opel Adam R2 and will be battling against their cousins James and Oliver Constantine in their 1600cc Suzuki Swift Sport. County Durham’s Ed Todd and Andy Brown will fancy their chances in their Darrian T9 whilst BSB racer Storm Stacey is hoping for a late entry in his factory-supported and ultra rapid Ford Fiesta R2.

Also amongst the 80-car entry are ten crews contesting the Formula 1000 Junior class for 14-17-year-olds, including recently crowned English champion William Paterson, whilst Scottish counterpart Ollie Forrester makes his debut in the senior class in a Citroen C2.

The first of eight stages totalling 45 miles starts at 09.00 with action all day, including the final couple of stages in the dark, with central servicing in between all stages. Gates open at 8am with adult admission in advance online or on the gate costing £14 and children aged 15 and under admitted free. Free parking on extensive hard standing is available until the car park is full with commentary and catering available in the Hangar 50 café which will be open throughout the day serving hot food and drinks.

Further information is available from www.darlingtondmc.com or via Croft Circuit on 01325 721815 or www.croftcircuit.co.uk. You can also keep up to date with the latest ticket alerts by following Croft Circuit on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Darlington & District Motor Club would like to extend their sincere thanks to Mr Dave Todd of EPF Graphics for supplying the door cards and numbers along with Bill Addison Plant Hire and Premier Traffic Management Ltd for the supply of road and marker cones.

Top Ten

1. Kevin Procter/ Ian Windress – Ford Fiesta S2000T
2. Joe Cunningham/Joshua Beer – Ford Fiesta WRC
3. Patrick O’Donovan/TBA – Hyundai i20 R5
4. Alan Carmichael/Kerryl Jackson – Skoda RS Rally 2
5. Ollie O’Donovan/Ashleigh Morris – Hyundai i20 R5
6. Ian Bainbridge St John Dykes – VW Polo R5
7. Kiaran Hankin/Ben Butterworth – Citroen C3 Rally 2
8. Chris Thompson/Pete Gibson – Ford Fiesta R2
9. Craig Pennington/Wayne Priest – Porsche GT3
10. Joe McKeand/Charlotte McDowall – Subaru Impreza