SEVERAL crews from around the Bay area had mixed fortunes over the weekend on the Wyedean Stages, the first round of the British Trials and Rally Drivers Association Series.

The Mitsubishi Evo VII of Arnside Motorsport's Wayne Sisson led the way home and finished 13th overall and second in class, setting top five times on the sixth and eighth stages around Chepstow Racecourse and a local forest complex.

Morecambe's Shelley Rogerson teamed up with Preston's Tom Boardman and they drove their Peugeot 206 SXi into 57th overall and fifth in class. After their non-finish on the Riponion Stages with turbo problems a couple of weeks ago, Ian Joel in his Escort Cosworth was hoping for a trouble-free run to start his championship season on the right footing. This was not to be as a broken rear arm on the second stage meant an early finish for the Carnforth team.

n This Saturday sees a plan which has taken over 18 months to come to fruition for Hellifield's Paul Redford as he finally gets to the start line of the North West Stages Rally in his 1400 Vauxhall Nova.

The 150 entries on the North West Stages start from Preston Town centre at 8.30am on Saturday morning before covering 70 competitive miles at Weeton, Leyland Test Track and Clifton water treatment works.

n The 2004 season for Morecambe Car Club starts with the first of two events at Hemplands Farm, Haverigg, on Sunday, February 29.

The event offers a test for all with the 40-mile mix of broken tarmac interspersed with a small amount of grass/gravel with all eight stages at the same venue.

For entries contact John Pinches on 01524 401339. If you are interested in helping at the event Ron Parker is the man to contact on 01524 417796.