1^st (17) Tapio Laukkanen/Ilka Riipinen (Impreza N) 18.01.4

2^nd (14) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Impreza N) 18.06.7

3^rd (16) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 18.16.4

4^th (18) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Hyundai WRC) 18.33.5

5^th (11) Mark Higgins/Mike Gibson (Focus) 18.33.7

6^th (24) Alistair Ginley/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 18.37.3

7^th (28) Leon Pesticcio/Howard Davies (Lancer N) 18.53.4

8^th (25) Johan Kressner/Cato Menkerud (Impreza WRC) 18.54.0

9^th (1) Gwyndaf Evans/Chris Patterson (MG ZR) 18.55.6

10^th (31) Nik Elsmore/Huw Lewis (Lancer N) 18.56.8

11^th (29) Gavin Cox/Tim Hobbs (Lancer N) 19.05.2

12^th (15) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 19.07.1

Surprisingly, group N reigns – there are 13 world rally cars in the International line up today, but as can be seen above it is Tapio Laukkanen and David Higgins, in their respective group N Subarus, who head the field. Laukkanen is in the very latest Prodrive gpN Impreza, while Higgins is driving last year’s car, the same Barratts machine with which he won the gpN category on the Rally GB. There are no times in for Marcus Dodd as yet, while Jonny Milner has dropped over a minute and is now lying 12^th, having led the rally overnight.

In the Super 1600 category of the International, Gwyndaf Evans showed all his class by recording a time of 15.56.4. Guy Wilks was closest to him, his Puma stopping the clocks on 16.17.8, while Justin Dales’ new Peugeot 206 Super 1600 incurred some brake troubles and was on 16.24.7, almost 6s faster than his works team mate Rory Galligan. Young Kris Meeke said before the rally that he was going to take things very steadily at first, and he was 5s slower than Galligan and is lying 20^th overall.

In the National part of the rally, which is split into two divisions – one for Peugeot 206 Super Cup contenders and one for the other cars – Ryan Champion in his Puma leads the Pirelli National from Roger Andersson from Sweden in his VW Polo. Ian Chadwick is 3^rd, this means by happy coincidence the first 3 also lead their various one make championships. Champion the 1400cc Puma, Andersson the VW Polo Challenge and Chadwick the Ford Ka series. Ryan Champion commented "My Puma is going well but I’m having to work at the brakes set up, there is too much to the rear, the car is very stiff and getting very sideways".

In the 206 division of the National Rally, local man Chris Moore from Garry Jennings with Marko Ramanen 3^rd. Jennings commented here at Hexham service "We’re taking it very steady, there’s a lot left, my only drama was when the gear knob pulled off and also when I had to run over a log, which I think may have been pulled out by a course car" Retirements so far from the national rally include Daniel Dunbabin and Darren Snape – both off the road.

More news later…BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON