A husband-and-wife team from Otley have formed a winning partnership in the adrenaline-fuelled world of cross-country motorsport.

Richard and Bernadette Copsey were looking for a sport they could enjoy together when a friend recommended off-road racing – and they haven’t looked back.

The Copseys have only been competing for just over a year as members of the Northern Off Road Club (NORC) but have already notched up considerable success thanks to expert mentoring by friend and several times off-road UK champion Robert Simmonite.

Tree surgeon Richard has taken on the driving duties, since he’s had years of experience in off-road motorbike competitions.

And Bernadette has proven to be an adept navigator – but that wasn’t always the plan.

The 35-year-old said: “The intention was to share the driving, as I love to drive, but his competitive side kicked in and he took over.

“I don’t mind because I get zero responsibility when we hit a tree head on – and my actual job is to tell him what to do and he can’t argue back. The perfect job for any wife!”

Richard, 40, agrees.

He said: “I’m a bad passenger so it’s worked out fine with me driving and Bernadette likes it because she can shout and tell me what to do and I can’t argue. So we both have fun.

“I used to ride motorbikes competitively for a long time but this is a great thing to do as a couple.

“It’s a good sport and you can do it on a budget as well.

“Though some people can spend £50,000 or more on cars, you can get a decent starter for a couple of thousand. Then you just need some tyres and you’ve only got the diesel or petrol cost, though it helps to be mechanically minded so you can fix the odd thing.”

The couple’s first racing car, a Bowler Tomcat 100 with a three- litre, turbo diesel BMW engine, helped them secure first overall place in the UK Championship diesel class.

They also came first in the NORC diesel class and sixth overall in the UK championship in their first year.

But things didn’t start smoothly.

Bernadette said: “We raced for the very first time at Waterbeach, near Cambridge.

“It was appropriately named as it chucked it down the entire time. The course turned into a massive chewed-up swamp and we ran with no brakes.

“The second race was at beautiful Loversall, in the rolling farmlands and colourful fields of Doncaster, and we had to be towed to the start line and bumped off every race!”

But the Copseys, who have four children, soon got into the swing of things and “worked and bodged and scraped” their way up the rankings, with lots of support from more-experienced fellow racers.

They would recommend the sport to anyone looking for an exciting hobby.

They are also keen to recruit more members for NORC, both to compete in the races and help out.

Richard said: “We could do with more members as numbers have dropped a bit.

“We would especially welcome people who are willing to help a little too, even just by bringing a friend along sometimes to act as a marshal.”

Visit norc.org.uk to find out more.