RALLY NEWS NO.6                    Pickering showground/Sat.  5pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 Housedale 2
1ST (12) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 0.58.16.4
2ND (16) Julian Reynolds/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza) 0.59.03.9
3RD (14) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 0.59.13.5
4TH (3) Gwyndaf Evans/Chris Patterson (MG ZR) 1.01.42.8
5TH (20) Nigel Heath/Steve Lancaster (Impreza WRC) 1.02.19.3
6TH (2) Guy Wilks/Roger Herron (Ford Puma) 1.02.29.7
7TH (24) Phil Morgan/Martin Douglas (Impreza N) 1.02.30.4
8TH (4) Rory Galligan/Gordon Noble (Peugeot 206) 1.02.42.0
9TH (5) Kris Meeke/Glenn Patterson (Ford Puma) 1.02.52.3
10TH (29) Adrian Wilson/Kevin Bardon (Impreza N) 1.03.40.3

End of Day 1 of this Trackrod International Rally and Jonny Milner's lead is looking fairly secure, over 47s ahead of Julian Reynolds, with Steve Petch in 3rd a further 10s back.  Jonny is setting consistently fastest times now, Reynolds and Petch swopping times.  Petch feels that his Hyundai is not as sharp in the braking department as it was earlier today. Reynolds reporting his engine cutting out a few times through stage 7, causing a worrying moment or two.  Milner, still on cloud 9 having won the Pirelli British Champion title today, remarked as he headed for service. "The car is fine, a bit of a vibration from the front suspension on right hand corners, but otherwise OK. We're still pushing fairly hard, learning the good bits and the bad bits, in case we are back here next year on the British Championship". 

Charley Payne and Craig Thorley were lying in 4th place earlier, but their Subaru broke a drive shaft in stage 6, the super special, and then stopped in stage 7, rumoured to be because of falling oil pressure. 

Gwyndaf Evans has been heading the Super 1600 runners all day, Payne's retirement brings the Welshman and the MG ZR up into 4th overall.  Gwyndaf commented "We're not going ten tenths, but not slowly either - these youngsters behind are going hard. But there is no point in me going silly.  The mechanics are doing a fine job, especially changing the gearbox, and we're trying a few new things in the suspension set up".  Behind Gwyndaf in the Super 1600 race Guy Wilks is going well, despite reporting a certain lack of grip through stage 8. Then it's Rory Galligan, co driver Gordon Noble saying "I think we're losing some time arriving at the junctions too sideways and not carrying the speed through".  Kris Meeke reckons the gearing is wrong on his Puma, and young Simon Hughes, down in 14th overall, feels that the gearing on his car is wrong for the tight junctions, and he is having to dip the clutch. Further retirement - Sven Haaf - Corsa had electrical problems to fuel pump.
In Group N Phil Morgan is looking very dominant with Adrian Wilson 2nd and Geoff Smith 3rd.  Leon Pesticcio is now back in 15th overall after his earlier roll, and James Thompson is 23rd following his stage 4 roll. 3 stages to go for the National Rally and Brian Bell leads. Ryan Champion leads 1400 Pumas. Clive Wheeler leads Polos. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON