FOLLOWING a long period of inaction due to the foot and mouth outbreak, Malton Motor Club drivers are raring to go in this year's Kallkwik Rally in Pickering.

It will be the first time the Cropton and Dalby forests have been used for rallying for 12 months since last year's event.

The recent Riponian Rally gave drivers the chance to get back behind the wheel in competitive racing. And now the Malton club contingent are especially keen to do well in their 'home' event.

Steve Bannister, from Weaverthorpe, is likely to be the man at the front of the Ryedale challenge. He has spent the last 12 months rebuilding his Mk II Escort in preparation for the two-wheel drive section of the Scottish Championship, which starts later this month.

He finished second in the 1999 and 2000 events but last year withdrew because of problems with his car.

The highly-rated Bannister is a dark horse for overall honours but the recent heavy rain will probably mean the four-wheel drive contenders are more likely to prevail.

Bannister said: "This car should be better than the old one once I get used to it. I'll be looking to win my class and if it's nice and dry, I could finish in the top ten if I'm lucky. I'm looking forward to getting going again after missing a full year."

Farmer Paul Daniel will be competing in his Ford Escort in the same class against Bannister. He was without a navigator until the beginning of this week but has secured the services of Alec Warters from Haxby.

Pickering's Steve Magson will have to travel all of 200 metres to the start of the event. He is another driver who has rebuilt his car and will be hoping for better luck than he had in last year's event.

He was leading his class by some margin before a broken gearbox forced him to retire.

He said: "I'll be happy with a top 15 finish, especially considering there are now chicanes on the track, which the four-wheel drive cars can handle but the two-wheel drive cars are liable to spin."

Alan Richardson goes head to head with Mark Simpson in class one. Richardson finished third in his class in the Riponian Rally behind Simpson, who came first. Richardson was particularly impressed with his new navigator Chris Roe.

Kirkbymoorside plumber Simpson, who drives a Nissan Micra said: "The damage to the car was only superficial from the Riponian so things are looking promising for Sunday."

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, February 14, 2002