THE opening round of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship took place last weekend with the Carlislebased Pirelli International Rally, which saw defending champions Guy Wilks, from Heighington, and Welsh co-driver Phil Pugh win the event for the second year in a row.

The Mitsubishi pair took the event by the scruff of the neck as they had in 2007, setting fastest times on all but one stage.

At the end of the two-day event, held in the infamous Kielder Forest, Wilks won by more than a minute to get his title defence off to the best possible start.

While Wilks was the region's only driver in the main event, other representatives in the various supporting classes included Morton on Swale garage proprietor Charlie Taylor and Pickering co-driver Steve Beilby, who had a relatively troublefree fun to 11th overall and sixth in class in the Historic event in their Ford Escort Mk 2.

Thirlby driver Terry Cree and Boltby co-driver Richard Shores suffered their fair share of problems in the same event in their venerable Mini Cooper S.

They put a hole in the sump on the first stage and had to keep an eye on the oil pressure throughout Friday evening before repairing the damage in service.

They also lost about two minutes as they got stuck in one of Kielder's infamous ditches on stage four, losing a small amount of time before ending up 40th overall and second in class.

Thirsk driver Amanda Cornforth, with her father Derek on the notes, was contesting the National event in her Ford Ka.

They lost three minutes stuck in a ditch on stage four before recovering, but, once in service, the 6th Gear PR team realised the front left strut mount was broken, along with some other damage.

With no means of repairing the strut in time, the pair had to drive through the last three stages with the problem, making it difficult to turn right. They also picked up a one-minute penalty for leaving service late after trying to fix some of the damage, before losing about two minutes with a puncture early in stage five. As a result, they came home 26th overall, but still claimed a deserved second in class.

● Guisborough rider Dennis Hobbs was fortunate to get away with nothing more than a dislocated shoulder after a 150mph crash saw him leave the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire without scoring points for the third year in succession.

Riding for the Centurion Honda team this year, Hobbs qualified on the second row of the British Supersport Championship grid and, after a good start, was running with the leading bunch.

But, braking into the Club Chicane from over 160mph, he tangled with another rider and slid at unabated speed into the protective barriers.

Luckily, he collided with temporary air-fencing and, after treatment trackside, he was taken to hospital. Despite the smash, Hobbs is hopeful of racing at Oulton Park next weekend in the second round of the 12-race series.

Hartburn racer Jamie Ferguson finished 23rd in the British 125cc race aboard his TFR Honda, while the Guisboroughbased Hydrex Bike Animal Honda scored two seventh places in the British Superbike Championship races in the hands of rider James Ellison.

Sadly, neither of the Darlington brothers, Richie and Jonathan Harrison, could master Saturday's wet conditions sufficiently to qualify for the British Supersport Championship race.

But they will be hoping for better luck when the next round of the series tales place at Oulton Park on the next bank holiday Monday.

● Pickhill rally driver Chris Wise made the long trip north to Ingliston, near Edinburgh, worthwhile when he emerged victorious on the Howford Hydraulics Tarmac Stages Rally last Saturday.

Driving the Autogas-sponsored MG Metro 6R4, along with co-driver Tracey Taylor West, he won the Dunfermline Car Club event by 16 seconds to move into second place in the Tyrespot Northern Tarmacadam Rally Championship.

The Saltburn-based Colman family were also out in force on the event, with Ian and Sam taking 17th place overall and eighth in class in their Nissan Gti-R, and Alison partnering Alan Hick to 23rd overall and tenth in class in their Nissan Pulsar.

A similar car was placed 38th overall and 16th in class in the hands of Cleadon pairing Jon Olds and Stuart Simpson, while Sinderby's Bill Bates and Ripon co-driver Charlotte Banner were placed 53rd overall and fifth in class in their Tanfield Engineering Peugeot 106, one place ahead of Whitby's Mark Mitchell and Mike Scrimgour in their Vauxhall Astra.

● This weekend sees the future stars of Formula One taking to the track at Croft circuit for the next two rounds of the 2008 British F3 International Series.

Since 1964, British F3 has provided the training ground for the next generation of Formula One stars, with drivers such as Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Mika Hakkinen, Damon Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jenson Button and Nelson Piquet all winning in British F3 on their way to the top of the motor sport ladder.

No other championship across the globe has produced more future champions than the UK's premier single-seat formula.

This year's crop of motor racing talent comes from all four corners of the globe, representing 16 nations from South America, the Middle East, Australia, Africa and Europe. Jaime Alguersuari is the joint leader in the 2008 championship, tied on points with Swedish sensation Marcus Ericsson.

The leading British driver is Penrith's Oliver Turvey, who got his 2008 season off to a dream start by taking victory in the opening race and will be a favourite to win at Croft. Atte Mustonen is one of two race winners from last season and the 19-year-old Finn is one of the pre-season favourites for the title.

In addition to the two F3 feature races, there will be a full supporting programme, including Texaco Havoline Ginettas, British Formula Ford, MSN Caterhams, Ginetta G50s and the MGCC MG Trophy.

Practice gets under way tomorrow at 9.30am, with the first of the races starting at 1.20pm.

On Sunday, racing starts at noon.

Adult admission costs £12 tomorrow and £15 on Sunday, with children aged 15 and under admitted free.

● Members of Ripon Motorsport Club are planning to wow the crowds with their competition and rally cars at the Speed Show, which takes place at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, on May 3 and 4.

Visitors to the event, which includes the best in two- and four-wheeled performance machines, stunt shows, classics, rally cars, club stands and more, will be able to see cars like Tim Pearcey's Riponian Rally winner, the Mitsubishi Evo 9, while Chris Wise will take his Metro 6R4.

Fans of old school rallying will be in for a treat, with Nick Dale's Talbot Sunbeam 1600, Gary Beckwith's Mk 2 Escort 1600 and John Parker's 1960s Saab 96 Sport two-stroke on show.

Parker is a founder member of the Ripon Motorsport Club and the current class champion in the Historic Rally series.

Those who like to see modified cars can feast their eyes on the Honda S2000-engined Mk II Ford Escort special, owned by Yuk Hodgson.

From a classic Lotus Cortina to a Subaru Impreza, the Ripon Motorsport Club should have something for everyone on their stand.

For advance tickets, call 0871- 945-6000. Prices are adults £8.50, children and pensioners £5. There is a £2 booking fee.

Entrance at the gate costs adults £10, children and pensioners £6.