David Higgins/ Chris Wood consolidated their lead on the rallies second stage, the 13 ½ miles through Highfield, as fog continued to pose major problems for the crews. Higgins was 15 seconds quicker than Alistair Ginley with Jonny Milner a mere whisker behind his close neighbour, then a gap to Paul Bird while young Mathew Wilson continued his impressive start, again fifth quickest but there was a premature end to Guy Wilkes assault on the Super 1600 class when the Suzuki Ignis slid terminally into a ditch, a similar fate end the rally for Jonathan Brown/ Ian Windress's Puma and John Lloyd/Pauline Gullick went out, off at the stages final junction.

Paul Bird caught and passed Barry Johnson, the Barrier Alarms Subaru pilot wasn't at all happy with his driving but couldn't work out what he was doing wrong.

Steve Perez/ Dan Barritt had a huge moment when they caught Lloyds mishandling Impreza and got lost in their dust, happily they survived. There was much gesticulating in the Broccoli/ Senese Fiat Punto when the intercom failed although it didn't seem to slow their progress too much and they continued to lead Super 1600, just ahead of Barry Clark, these two crews easing away from the chasing Gareth Jones, who spun at the first corner and lost time when the car was reluctant to start, and Aki Teiskonen who was finding his Saxo a bit slow, his previous rally had been in an Impreza!

Ling extended his lead in the Production class, 45 seconds up on Dorian Rees' Impreza With Rob Swann's Evo 8 next, Swann caught and passed Mark I'Anson s Mitubishi, I'Anson not enjoying the night stages at all and desperate to reach the Hexham Parc Ferme! Jean Roca increased his lead in the Fiat Stilo Cup battle, opening up an 18 second gap over Chris Davies, Willie Bonniwell stayed third but Shaun Wooffinden moved ahead of Tom Metcalfe but it was a mighty close struggle between any of these crews.