Next weekend’s Jack Frost Stages Rally, taking place at Croft Circuit on Sunday, December 7, 2025, has attracted a full and high-quality entry list, with plenty of local competitors set to take on the challenging eight-stage course.
The last time the Darlington & District Motor Club event was held was in 2020, when Scruton driver Kevin Procter claimed victory in his Ford Fiesta S2000. Although he has been a regular winner on the Northallerton Automobile Club Christmas and Winter Stages Rallies at Croft, that remains his only Jack Frost success to date.
Procter returns this year as the number one seed, sharing his Ford Fiesta S200T with Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress. However, strong competition is expected from another driver in the Procter Motorsport stable – his nephew Joe Cunningham.
Cunningham, from Leeming Bar, alongside Bedale co-driver Josh Beer, won last year’s Swift Signs & Shirts Winter Stages Rally at Croft in their Ford Fiesta WRC. They come into this event in excellent form after securing victory at the Neil Howard Stages Rally at Oulton Park earlier this month.
They will face stiff opposition from some of the country’s top tarmac rally drivers, led by former British and European Rallycross champion Patrick O’Donovan. The London-based Irishman will drive his Hyundai i20 R5 and is seeded third, just ahead of Scotsman Alan Carmichael in his Skoda R5.
Motorsport legend Ollie O’Donovan is also entered, seeded fifth, and will drive another Hyundai i20 R5. He is no stranger to Croft, having previously clinched a British Rallycross title there. He will be joined by co-driver Ashleigh Morris following her appearance at the Grizedale Stages on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
After a couple of years away from the sport, County Durham’s Ian Bainbridge returns in a VW Polo R5, navigated by Staindrop’s St John Dykes. Meanwhile, former bike racer Kiaran Hankin will compete in his Citroen C3.
Other notable entries include Chris Thompson and Pete Gibson in a Ford Fiesta R2 prepared by Northallerton-based Motoscope, and the distinctive Porsche GT3 of Craig Pennington and Wayne Priest. Scottish youngsters Joe McKeand and Charlotte McDowall complete the top ten in their Subaru Impreza.
Local interest is strong throughout the field, particularly in the two-wheel-drive class. Northallerton’s Dave Bellerby will compete in a Ford Escort Mk2, while Mickleton’s Alistair Hutchinson will be joined by his daughter Emma in a Renault Clio Maxi. Bishop Auckland’s Mark and Hannah Thompson will campaign a Peugeot 206, and Northallerton sisters Paige and Drew Bellerby will share a Mitsubishi Evo 9.
Richmond brothers Luke and Tom Constantine will take on their cousins James and Oliver Constantine, with both pairs competing in 1600cc machinery. County Durham’s Ed Todd and Andy Brown are also among the contenders.
The 80-car entry includes ten crews in the Formula 1000 Junior category for 14 to 17-year-olds, including recently crowned English champion William Paterson.
The first of eight stages, covering a total of 45 miles, begins at 9am.
The gates open at 8am, with adult admission priced at £14 and free entry for children aged 15 and under. Free parking is available, along with commentary and catering at the Hangar 50 café.
Further information is available from Darlington & District Motor Club or Croft Circuit.
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