ACASTER Malbis driver Ian Wheatley is chasing a clean sweep of trophies in six regional rally championships.

Wheatley and co-driver Fred Roberts are targeting a double-hat-trick of triumphs in their Group Four Escort 2.1 rally car.

The York Motor Club duo are currently lying top of their class in three of the series and are handily placed for overall victory in the other three.

A busy schedule sees Wheatley compete almost every weekend to maintain his challenge in the Stage Rally Championships of the Association of Northern Car Clubs, the East Midlands Association of Motor Clubs, the Association of North East and Midlands Motor Clubs and the Association of North East Car Clubs, as well as the North of England Tarmac Championships and the East Midlands Multi-Venue Championships.

The 41-year-old director of a window machinery manufacturing company competes in class four, which sees him pitch his talents against other drivers with cars boasting engine capacities bigger than two litres.

Class Five is the highest specification, aimed at four-wheel drive vehicles, but Wheatley has still managed two 18th-placed overall finishes this year from 90-strong fields.

He has also secured class victories at Croft, during the January Jack Frost meeting, Melbourne and Swinderby and believes his six of the best titles is a realistic aim, saying: "It's very much on the cards but anything can happen in rallying and I'm touching wood as I speak."

Wheatley's enthusiasm for cars is clearly genetic with his grandfather - CG Wheatley - a well-known York garage proprietor.

His father and uncle are also both motor engineers and Ian first started driving at the age of 12 on Tholthorpe Airfield in an old Fiat 500.

He joined York Motor Club at 17 in 1981 and reignited his passion for the sport this decade, becoming YMC's highest point scorer during the 2003 Inter Club Larkspeed League.

Wheatley persuaded Roberts to take up co-driving at the age of 50 and the pair quickly recorded wins at Sheffield and Hallamshire, Darlington and Northallerton Motor Club events.

Their next ambition is to compete in the National Tarmac Championships but the extra travelling, maintenance and competing costs mean sponsorship would need to be attracted and anybody willing should contact Wheatley on 07887 756348.

The York Motor Club are also always on the search for new members.

Based at the old Caravan Club site next to the Lysander Arms, off Shipton Road, the club meet every Wednesday night and compete in a variety of disciplines, including auto tests, sprints, hill climbs, rally cross and rallying.

Beginners can use their own road cars or vehicles especially prepared for competition and anybody interested should call chairman John Roberts on 01904 423612 or 07803 002877.

Wheatley is quick to praise the support the club has offered him during his bid for success, adding: "It's a very friendly club with a lot of people willing to help you prepare your car or service it.

"There's an awful lot of knowledge there and a good social scene as well."

Updated: 10:29 Wednesday, September 07, 2005