UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 17 MARGAM

1st (1) Marcus Gronholm/Timo Rautainen (Peugeot)3.23.44.8

2nd (16) Harri Rovanpera/Risto Pietilainen (Peugeot)3.26.11.9

3rd (5) Richard Burns/Robert Reid (Subaru) 3.26.50.2

4th (10) Alister McRae/Dave Senior (Accent) 3.30.33.6

5th (11) Armin Schwarz/Manfred Hiemer (Octavia) 3.31.16.1

6th (9) Kenneth Eriksson/Staffan Parmander (Accent) 3.31.55.8

7th (2) Didier Auriol/Denis Giraudet (Peugeot) 3.32.05.9

8th (12) Bruno Thiry/Stephan Prevot (Octavia() 3.34.40.4

9th (26) Gregoire De Mevius/Jack Boyere (Peugeot) 3.38.02.5

10th (21) Toshihiro Arai/Tony Sircombe (Subaru) 3.38.51.2

Marcus Gronholm and Harri Rovanpera score a one two for Peugeot, Richard Burns takes 3rd in his Subaru, and more importantly the World Rally Drivers Championship. Outgoing Champion Gronholm now puts his name in the rally record book, and said "I'm very happy". Richard Burns is the first English driver to win the world driver's title. Gronholm's Peugeot ran perfectly the whole way through the difficult four days of this Network Q Rally GB, the Finnish driver also commenting, "Yes, the car was very good. The rally has been difficult in places with the conditions, fog and slippy. I am very pleased to win". Peugeot win the world manufacturer title.

For Richard Burns winning the World Champion title is a dream come true. He won the Peugeot Junior Cup in 1990: in 1991 when Robert Reid started to co-drive for him he won the Peugeot Challenge: in '92 was British National Champion in a Subaru Legacy and outright Champion in '93, backed all the way by mentor David Williams. Now this. Ironically this is 30 year old Richard's last drive for Subaru, as he goes to Peugeot next year. As he climbed from his Impreza, the pressure off, smiling broadly, he commented "I can't put it into words. There has been huge pressure, I would have liked to have won my home rally again, but the world championship has been my sole aim. The Subaru team, the Pirelli technicians, my co-driver Robert, many have played their part"

In Group N, David Higgins in his Subaru took a fantastic victory, just over 2s ahead of Peruvian Ramon Ferreyros. It was a classic battle, and Ramon commented "I went as fast as possible today. I congratulate David". Provisionally it would appear that Backlund has stopped in the final stage to allow Alistair Ginley, who has been on a charge today into 3rd gpN, Blomqvist 4th. Sebastian Loeb was the class act in the Super 1600 category with his Saxo and takes a comfortable victory. Dallavilla changed the suspension setup in his Punto and flew through today's stages, but looks to have a problem on the last stage, reportedly a blown engine, which may allow McShea into 2nd after an exciting drive in his Saxo.

Other earlier news includes.. Arai and Solberg each having gear box trouble with their respective Subarus a few stages from the finish. Stenshorne rolled his Puma, got going, only for the suspension to collapse two miles later.

Finally for now...our sincere thanks to all who have helped with the RallyNews service...BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON