EAST Yorkshire driver Jonny Milner turned back the clock to clinch victory in a British Rallycross event - after a 13-year absence from the sport.

As a former British RallyCross champion, Milner, from Huggate, near Pocklington, was expected to do reasonably well but he surprised himself by winning the Stock Hatch category of the championship round at Blighton airfield, Lincolnshire.

The victory was the perfect tonic for Milner, who resumes the defence of his British Rally Championship title at the Manx International Rally tomorrow.

He is one of the favourites to win an event in which he has enjoyed some success in the past.

He drove a 1600cc Peugeot 205 loaned to him by Jim Cooke, a rallycross regular, at Blighton.

Milner said: "The car was great fun to drive, and the whole weekend brought back so many great memories from when I used to compete in rallycross all the time.

"More than anything, I was delighted to return and support the British Rallycross Championship itself. Not a lot has changed since I left thirteen years ago - the competition is still incredibly hard, but the lads rally all enjoy it."

Updated: 10:18 Friday, August 01, 2003