Round 5: Tyneside Stages Rally, 11 August

Defending champion Damian Cole took his third consecutive Tyneside Stages win to move into the championship lead.

Cole finished just two seconds clear of John Indri, while Simon Maugeranother former Tyneside winnerwas third in his Ford Escort MkII.

Erstwhile championship leader Steve Simpson was on course for victory when his Subaru Impreza WRC lost a front wheel with just one stage remaining.

Results1 Damian Cole / James Morgan (Ford Focus WRC) 1h10m23s John Indri / Peter James Darrian (T90 GTR) 1h10m25s3 Simon Mauger / Brian Cammack (Ford Escort MkII) 1h10m41sProvisional championship standings1 Damian Cole113 points2 Washington James1133 Steve Simpson1114 Simon Mauger1045 John Indri103