COMPETITORS in the East Lancashire-based SD34 Road Rally Championship dominated the top ten finishers on the Ryemoor Trophy.

With an entry list that read like a who's who of northern road rallying, any of the top 25 crews were capable of victory on the event, which formed the second round of the championship.

Alex Willan and Paul Taylor shrugged off brake problems with their Subaru to claim third place, closely followed by Jon Lawson and Chris Pringle.

The former SD34 champions missed out on second after a 'wrong slot' cost them two places.

Willan's brother Dan finished fifth overall with Terry Martin squeezing into the top ten.

Martin, from Blackburn, and navigator Jerry Hettrick were unlucky to suffer a puncture on the only 'white' of the night, dropping them from third place.

Organisers Malton DMC laid on a 155-mile route in North Yorkshire for the capacity 50-car entry.

The first half comprised four 15-mile selectifs on classic road rally sections such as Airedale Mill and Sutton Bank. Following the petrol halt, crews then tackle 70 miles of tight and twisty lanes around Malton.

Overall victory went to the first time pairing of Ian Ainsworth and Iain Tullie.

The next round of the series is the VK Derbyshire on April 8-9. 1: Ian Ainsworth/Iain Tullie (Proton Coupe) 3m43s; 2:Stan Featherstone/Mike Ogram (Peugeot 205) 4m35s; 3:Alex Willan/Paul Taylor (Subaru) 4m56s; 4 Jon Lawson/Chris Pringle (Vauxhall Nova) 4m57s; 5: Dan Willan/Paul Allen (Vauxhall Astra) 5m36s; 6: Guy Robinson/Charlie Wheeldon (Subaru Impreza) 5m39s; 7: Paul Schatz/Richard Todd (Peugeot 205) 6m05s 8: Alex Kirk-Willey/Craig Hardman (Vauxhall Corsa) 6m13s; 9: Adrian Green/John Pickavance (Seat Ibiza) 6m14s; 10: Terry Martin/Jerry Hettrick (Peugeot 205) 6m30s