Thousands of spectators lined the stages of The Dom Valley Stadium in Sheffield last Saturday to watch the action on the RAC Rally.

Rally enthusiasts have long mourned the loss of the old style RAC Rally which started in a different part of the UK every year and used stages all over the country.

Named after Roger Albert Clark, probably the most famous British rally driver, The De Lacy Motor Club from Yorkshire decided to resurrect the RAC last year and attracted entries of two wheel drive cars only as opposed to the WRC cars seen on The Wales GB.

The pilot rally proved successful and this year the club returned with a bigger event.

Starting in Sheffield last Saturday the event took in stages in Yorkshire, Cumbria, The Scottish Borders and Kielder before returning to Sheffield yesterday, November 22.

The event is a mecca for the Ford Escort which, when driven properly in blood curdling power slides, makes it all worth while.

First car away was last year's winners Stig Blomqvist/Anni Goni in a Ford Escort Mk2 RS followed by Mark Higgins/Peter Martin Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1.

Car three was the amazing Lancia Stratos of Steve Perez/Steve Harris which brought back memories of the amazing cars driven by Sandro Munari and Bjorn Waaldagard in the 1970s.

Jeremy Easson and Alun Cook from Caerphilly started at car four in a Ford Escort RS 2000 16V, while the top five was completed by Jimmy McRae/Campbell Roy in a Porsche 911 RS.

Local interest was in David Stokes/Ian Oakey in the Braces Bakery backed Ford Escort RS1600 MK1, who started at car number seven.

A master of the Ford Escort in the 70s, David has lost none of his skills which was proved by setting the fastest stage time on stage four. Fifth overall after the Saturday and Sunday stages David and Ian had moved up to fourth by late Monday morning.

The event has proved a huge success with far more people spectating in the forests than last year.

Results after 12 of 19 stages: 1 Mark Higgins/ Peter Martin Ford Escort RS 1600 Mk1, 1:02:16; 2 Stig Blomqvist/Ana Goni Ford Escort Mk 2 RS, 1:02:42; 3 Jeremy Easson/Alun Cook Ford Escort RS 2000 16 Valve, 1:04:02; 4 David Stokes/Ian Oakey Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1, 1:04:49.