Champion to defend title.

After a top ten finish in the Specsavers Christmas Stages at Croft, Ryan Champion has declared his intention to defend his Kall Kwik National Rally title next month.

The Castleton driver has been limited to selected events since competing in the British Super1600 Championship for the Ford Junior team in 2003.

But once again at Croft last week he showed that he has what it takes to make his mark in a quality field.

Budget restrictions may again rule him out of the British Championship this year, but he has confirmed he will attempt to win the Kall Kwik Rally in the North Yorkshire countryside for a second time next month.

Champion clinched a class two win and finished ninth overall - just ten seconds off a place in the top five - at Croft in his Ford Puma S1600, prepared by Team Birkbeck of Brotton.

All eight stages were completed - the last two in the dark.

Icy conditions for the opening stage provided a stiff test for the 90 competitors.

"The first stage was just so tricky," said Champion.

"In some places the grip was fine and in others there was just none at all.

"When you're braking from 100mph and you hit some ice it's quite interesting!

"Thankfully we got through it OK and most of the ice had gone by stage two," he said.

Despite testing conditions and being up against 25 four-wheel drive cars, Champion and Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress were immediately into the top ten overall and took a lead in the 1600cc class which they held to the end.

"On the slow speed muddy stuff, you're obviously at a disadvantage with a front-wheel drive car," said Windress, "but through the faster corners and under braking we seemed to be able to gain time even on the four-wheel drive cars."

Champion drove a S1600 Puma in the 2003 British Rally Championship but his last outing in a similar car was 14 months ago.

"Team Birkbeck took over the development of the Puma from Ford and have done a great job improving the car," he said.

"The engine now has much better torque and the car is generally easier to drive.

"As for 2005, I've no firm plans for the minute.

"Ideally I'd like to contest the British Championship again but, as ever, it all depends on sponsorship.

"My next event, however, will definitely be the Kall Kwik Rally."

With pre-overall event favourite John Bogie a non-arrival, victory at Croft went to Tom Morris and Neil Chambers (Metro 6R4) with a total time of 40min 37sec.

They finished ahead of Tony Bardy and Reg Smith (Sunny GTiR) in 41:14 with George Grieve and Stephen Robson (Escort Cosworth) third in 41:18.

But Morris rather luckily escaped a penalty - despite protests from other drivers - after returning to service to collect a spare wheel having already booked into a time control.

Teesside's top performer was Marton's Keith Davison, partnered by Henry Richardson, (Darrian T90) who won class three and finished fifth overall.

Champion and Davison were among the East Cleveland-based Whitby MC's six-strong contingent at Croft. Martin Cockerill and Steve Kent (MG Maestro) had to put up with a slipping clutch all day, but fortunately, it stayed in one piece until the end and they finished 67th overall.

Like Steve and Phil Perry (Vauxhall Nova), WDMC clubmates Alan Hick and Alison Colman were taking part in their first rally.

Hick and Colman's only problem was a a slight altercation with a bale which dented a door.

But the Perrys had a more exciting time, rolling their Nova onto its roof and back onto its wheels after getting it all wrong at the complex.

They carried on to the end and were awarded the Spirit of the Rally award but a missed time control kept them off the results table.

The car will now be reshelled ready for their next outing.

Hartburn's Steve Alderdice was 27th overall (16th in class five) in his first Tarmac rally in his Sierra Cosworth.

Alderdice - partnered by the experienced Ken Bills - found the tricky chicanes not to his big Sierra's liking.

But he'll be back at Croft on January 15 for the Jack Frost Stages - this time with regular navigator Dean Grabham back beside him.

East Cleveland brothers Ian and Ian Colman sorted out the gearbox problems on their Nissan Sunny GTi-R which robbed them of a top six finish in the Philips Tour of Mull last time out and came home.

Stockton and District MC's Jim Kirwin from Ingleby Barwick and co-driver Martyn Calkin (Toyota Corolla) were 66th overall and 16th in class two.

But, more importantly, they were fifth in class in the North of England Championship.

"It's not a car that goes particularly well at Croft, so fifth in class is a good start to the season," said Kirwin.

"Last year we were sixth and went on to finish second in class in the final championship table."

Event sponsor David Stockton from Middlesbrough (Subaru) overcame gearbox problems to come home 34th.