Situated under the shadow of the brooding Simonside Hills, the 12 mile Harwood stage, tight and twisty and with the light fading fast, proved a difficult challenge for competitors in the Pirelli International Rally and produced a surprise rally leader in the shape of Mark Higgins whose Renault Clio emerged from the forest 15 seconds ahead of Gwyndaf Evans MGZR with the Puma of Guy Wilkes a further 6 seconds adrift. British Champion Jonny Milner fell back, his Toyota suffering from a lack of brakes, a similar problem affecting Kris Meekes Puma which also lost fifth gear.

Irish star Austin McHale’s Subaru lost its lights, and two minutes, when he went off the road, young Leon Pesticcio (Fiat) also lost his lights and commented ”I hope folk could hear me coming for they certainly wouldn’t see me” while fellow Welshman Julian Reynolds Subaru had the double problem of a misfire and jumping out of gear. Finnish ace Tapio Laukkanen was missing from the fray but Italian Mirco Baldacci, on his first British championship event, had his Fiat Punto up to thirteen place and told reporters he was enjoying himself.

Other crews who reported problems included Nik Elsmore (Mitsubishi) who had a driveshaft go just before the stage, Mark I’Anson (Mitsubishi) who went off on four occasions and Dougie Hall(Mitsubishi) who caught two cars but couldn’t get past them.