1^ST (17) Tapio Laukkanen/Ilka Riipinen (Impreza N) 56.28.3

2^ND (11) Mark Higgins/Mike Gibson (Focus) 56.55.5

3^RD (14) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Impreza N) 57.06.1

4^TH (15) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 57.27.6

5^TH (18) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Hyundai WRC) 58.06.9

6^TH (25) Johan Kressner/Cato Menkerud (Impreza WRC) 58.36.2

7^TH (22) Robert Woodside/Dean Beckett (Impreza WRC) 59.06.1

8^TH (1) Gwyndaf Evans/Chris Patterson (MG ZR) 59.13.3

9^TH (31) Nik Elsmore/Huw Lewis (Lancer N) 59.18.2

10^TH (23) Glyn Jones/Craig Parry (Impreza WRC) 59.18.9

Mark Higgins turned in 2 fastest times through stages 5 and 6 with David Higgins fastest group N but still well behind the Focus. Tapio still holds the lead and commented here at service "I took it a bit carefully, our 5^th gear is jumping away, so I was a bit on the safe side, but these stages, with long straights and tight corners suit the world rally car better than the group N". Mark Higgins admits that he was a bit more relaxed through those last 2 stages, not trying quite so hard, and it paid off in the stage times. David Higgins lost 30s leaving service when the mechanics discovered a problem with the front strut, and it was a real charge to get it changed. David saying "The handling is better, but you definitely donot want to be dropping 30s to Tapio in road penalties".

Fourth placed Jonny Milner had another puncture, this time at the end of stage 6, but happily near the finish line and he lost little time. Steve Petch in 5^th reports no real dramas. Swedish visitor Johan Kressner has his rear brake caliper problem now sorted. Robert Woodside lost time earlier and was lying fairly well back, but carved his way back through the field to move into 7^th. Gwyndaf Evans in 8^th leads the Super 1600 category. Gwyndaf reports that his MG is going well but still has "rear wheel steering" – something loose at the back of the car.

Justin Dale’s challenge for Super 1600 supremacy has faded somewhat now, his new 206’s gearbox giving trouble through Shepherdshield which meant Justin having to do stage 6 Chirdonhead with just 1^st and 2^nd gears. This leaves Andreas Eriksson 2^nd in Super 1600 and Guy Wilks 3^rd, Wilks remarking that his performance through Shepherdshield did not feel good, but the time was good. Kris Meeke has now moved up into 4^th in the Super 1600s, Kris now reckoning, with the help of Jimmy McRae’s advice, that he had picked a wrong tyre earlier on. Rory Galligan is still settling in to his Peugeot and is 5^th in Super 1600 and 20^th overall, just ahead of Peter Stephenson in the Subaru who had lost time earlier with a broken driveshaft.

In the National 206 part of the rally Garry Jennings has 27s advantage over Marko Ramanen with Mike Faulkner 3^rd. While in the Pirelli National Rally Ryan Champion in the Puma leads Roger Andersson in the VW Polo with Ian Chadwick 3^rd, Ian leading the Ford Kas. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON