1st (2) David Higgins/Chris Wood (Accent WRC) 6.01.9
2nd (1) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 6.07.9
3rd (6) Paul Bird/Andrew Bargery (Focus WRC) 6.10.4
4th (4) Alistair Ginley/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 6.16.7
5th (9) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 6.21.7
6th (26) Sebastian Ling/James Phillips (Lancer N) 6.23.4
7th (5) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 6.26.6
8th (33) Gareth Jones/Dave Senior (Clio) 6.34.9
9th (8) Steve Perez/Daniel Barritt (Focus WRC) 6.35.2
10th (10) Neil Buckley/Neil Ewing (Lancer N) 6.39.4

Conditions were mostly fast here in Kielder on the first of these Pirelli Rally stages. Having said that, there were still patches of fog wisping about in the darkness. Those patches were to catch out some talented drivers, of which more later. There were no problems for David Higgins though, H was sweating hard when he reached stage finish. This was his first run in anger in a Hyundai, but still he set a fastest time and reported - "It was good, bit of understeer, but it was OK". British Champion Jonny Milner reported "Some patchy fog but I still enjoyed it. However I'm feeling my way tonight in the new Subaru. We'll see tomorrow". Third placed Paul Bird reported no problems, getting used to rallying in the darkness, the set up on his Focus a lot better. Alistair Ginley, 4th after that first stage, said "The car was a bit soft in the suspension set up". 

Malcolm Wilson was one of the handful of people at the control here in the forest in the dark, and you could see he was more than a little nervous as he waited for his 17 year old son Matthew to appear. Bang on cue the youngster came down the stage in the Focus WRC, grinning from ear to ear when he stopped under the lights, he reported. "Really enjoyed that, a bit of fog, but OK". The relief in Malcolm's face was palpable, and when he looked at Matthew's time, he said "Pretty impressive". 

There was soon news of dramas as cars continued to appear out of the darkness. Ryan Champion was reportedly crashed, Guy Wilks was going slowly and there was no sign of Leon Pesticcio. Ryan Champion's battered Lancer eventually appeared and he reported that on a 5 right, in the fog, he had turned into a layby and the Lancer had tumbled over. He dropped approximately 7 minutes, and the car is rather the worse for wear. Wilks' Suzuki appeared with the hazard lights going and a crumpled front, Guy telling of being blinded by Champion's lights, the Lancer by this time facing the wrong way, and Guy hit a bank. 

Still no news of Leon Pesticcio's Punto. While Phillip Morrow has reportedly crashed his Lancer out. As can be seen above Sebastian Ling turned in a stunning time in the Group N category. Neil Buckley 2nd and Dorian Rees 3rd. Buckley commented "Nice and steady, nae dramas". Rees said "One big moment but I got away with it". In the Super 1600 category Gareth Jones was very impressive in the Clio and reported "Was good, but we had a few intercom problems". His team mate Simon Hughes said "We'll push tomorrow". Simon Hughes was on 6.46.7. Finnish driver Teiskonen was on 6.50.6 in the Saxo. Alessandro Broccoli in the Fiat Punto was another to go well with a time of 6.42.0. Some more times include: John Lloyd 7.21.8 in his Subaru, reporting something wrong with the front differential. Neil Gatt 6.56.7. Damian Cole 7.02.9. Simon Redhead 6.58.9, his gpN Impreza overheating. More news later. 

BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Ciara Conlon and Chris Moore) www.rallynews.net               www.rallynews.net