RIPON'S Stewart Hymas will be bidding to pilot his Peugeot 205 to a second successive victory in the Kall Kwik National Forest rally in North Yorkshire on Sunday.

He will be favourite to repeat last year's success when he heads the field of 67 out of Eden Camp museum at Malton at 9.30am through 40 miles of tough terrain in the North Yorkshire Forests.

Hymas and co-driver Colin Stockill can expect stiff opposition from Malton farmer Steve Bannister in his four-wheel drive Mitsubishi Galant and the current BTRDA Silver Star champion, York drainage contractor Warren Philliskirk, in his MG Metro 6R4.

The Ford Escorts of Steve Petch (Durham) and Marcus Dodd will also pose a threat.

Other North Yorkshire club hopefuls include Charlie Taylor (Northallerton), Ian Jemison (York), Gavin Read (Malton), Bryan Gill (Ripon), Dave Craven (Northallerton), Martin Peirson (Malton), Glen Workman (Ripon), Matthew Yeadon (Ripon), James Metcalf (Malton), Barry Walker (Northallerton), Alan Richardson (Malton), Chris Myers (York) and James Middlebrook (York).

The event, which was formerly the first round of the British open Championship for several years still attracts crews from all over the country.

A number of 'hot hatches' are making their debut in the event, including a 660cc Daihatsu Curore Avanzato TR Turbo, driven by Justin Dale.

The rally is scheduled to finish at Eden Camp at 4pm.

Special stages will be held in the following forests - 1 Staintondale One (first car 10.14am), 2 Dalby One (10.31), 3 Cropton (11.47), 4 Staintondale Two (2.21pm) 5 Dalby Two (2.36pm).

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