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 The second round of the Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship (NHRC) got underway this weekend (8-9 March) with the Sherwood Forest-based Robin Hood Forest Stages Rally.
So far 22 competitors have registered for the NHRC, which is affiliated to the HRCR (Historic Rally Car Register), and 15 were in action across the forest gravel stages of the Robin Hood event.
Darren Moon and John McNichol, fresh from victory in round one last month, once again set a blistering pace as they finished fourth overall and third in class D5 in the two-day National A event in their Mk2 Ford Escort and claimed the NHRC honours.
Jim Clark/Martin Knapp and Paul Mankin/Des Bell were all in action in class B4 in Ford Lotus Cortinas. Mankin and Bell finished eighth overall in the historic category and third in class with Clark and Knapp 10th overall in the category and fourth in class.
Mike Robinson was co-driving for James Slaughter in a Mk1 Ford Escort and came home 21st in the post historic category and seventh in class C3 after a loose plug lead hampered them on stage five.
In the classic category, Pickering crew Steve Magson and Geoff Atkinson were in action in their Opel Ascona but were unfortunate as they retired on stage three on Saturday night with a suspected blown head gasket.
In the Robin Hood Historic Trophy Rally Paul Drinkall/Roy Brown, David Marshall/Chris Hudson and Adam and Ian Tomlinson were all competing.
Marshall and Hudson had a long battle with the Porsche 911 of Drinkall and Brown who eventually won with over a three-minute margin as they finished second overall in the post historic category and second in class C4. Marshall and Hudson claimed third overall and first in class C5 in their Ford Escort RS1600 whilst the Tomlinson’s retired on stage six with engine problems on their MG Midget.
Mike Collins, championship co-ordinator of the NHRC, said: “It was great to see more NHRC competitors out on the Robin Hood and especially experiencing some close battles with one another.
 “The Robin Hood generated further interest in the series and we’re hoping to have more crews out on the next round.”
The NHRC has been running for two years and landed its first major title sponsor in the form of Northallerton-based rally equipment and car preparation company Motoscope this year.
The 2008 Motoscope NHRC consists of eight rounds across a mix of asphalt and gravel in the north of England and Scottish Borders with the best five scores to count.
It is open to all cars that comply with the MSA’s requirements for historic rally cars in classes H1, H2 and H3 and only wheels and tyres used in that period are allowed.
In addition to title sponsor Motoscope; Tyres South Shore will also be supporting the series by providing tyres to championship winners on events as well as being available to supply tyres.
The next round will be the Weeton Camp-based SMC Stages on Sunday 30 March.
Website at: www.hrcrnorthernchampionship.co.uk.
The 2008 Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship calendar:
Round 1 10th February Riponian Rally Forest
Round 2 9th March Robin Hood Historic Trophy Forest
Round 3 30th March SMC Stages Tarmac
Round 4 11th May John Overend Mixed
Round 5 28th June Scottish Rally Forest
Round 6 24th August Pendragon Tarmac
Round 7 6th September Merrick Stages Forest
Round 8 2nd November Malton Rally Forest
Registration for the 2008 Motoscope NHRC costs £15 per person or £28 per crew.
At the end of the season the overall winners will be awarded the Roger Sutcliffe Memorial Trophy with prizes for first and second place in the categories and first, second and third place in the classes.
Motoscope is rally equipment and car preparation company based in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
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