UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 - HALFWAY

1st (1) Marcus Gronholm/Timo Rautainen (Peugeot) 45.56.2

2nd (2) Didier Auriol.Denis Giraudet (Peugeot) 46.21.6

3rd (5) Richard Burns/Robert Reid (Subaru) 46.32.7

4th (16) Harri Rovanpera/Risto Pietilainen (Peugeot)46.44.5

5th (10) Alister McRae/Dave Senior (Accent) 47.09.6

6th (3) Carlos Sainz/Luis Moya (Ford) 47.29.1

7th (17) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford) 47.37.2

8th (11) Armin Schwarz/Manfred Hiemer (Octavia) 47.38.2

9th (8) Freddy Loix/Sven Smeets (Lancer) 47.40.5

10th (9) Kenneth Eriksson/Staffan Parmander (Accent)47.47.9

"It's going to be a long 2 days" observed Richard Burns' co driver Robert Reid when their Subaru arrived in here to service after the Halfway stage. There is no doubt a lot of the buzz has gone out of the rally following the retirement of Colin McRae with his stage 4 accident. The task for Burns is to keep his concentration, not go too fast or too slow, just sit in there near the top. Robert continued "We always thought it would be settled at least by the halfway point in the rally, but not this soon."

Rally leader, Marcus Gronholm, commented here at service "We are pushing quite hard, but taking no risks. The car is good, the set up similar to Australia". Second placed Auriol said "We don't go so bad for a retired rally driver, but really I find this rally very difficult. I have to push myself." Alister McRae in 5th told us that he was pushing quite hard, the car was good, and they were looking for the best result possible for a Hyundai before they leave. Carlos Sainz has charged up to 6th place following his earlier time loss, and said "I'm trying hard, and to get back into the rythym". Mark Higgins lost a lilttle time in Halfway when he spun at a lunction, but otherwise going well. Many of the drivers, including Marck, reported fog for about 5 miles of stage 6, Mark also having fog on the inside of the screen. Armin Schwarz reported his earlier disconcerting handling problem to be sorted, it was really a matter of the wheel alignment being knocked out. He also reports quite a lot of wheelspin through Halfway.

News of furthere retirements - Markko Martin earlier today had a problem with the rear brakes locking on. The car at one point careered in and out of a few ditches, wiping the front. The Subaru mechanics replaced the steering rack, wiring loom and coolers in record time, but it looks now as if Markko has disappeared. Stohl went out aafter leaving the road, Tuohino has also gone.

Gwyndaf Evans lost over 2 minutes in road penalties when his SEAT's clutch packed in following service. Otherwise Gwyndaf is setting good times and is now 17th overall. Neil Wearden is in 11th, Bruno Thiry 12th, Arai 13th, the Japanese driver saying "It is scary, very fast over the big crests". Gregoire De Mevius is 14th, the Belgian driver saying "Too cautious in the fog". 

More news later..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON