Both Latvala and Haaf showed off their considerable skills from the start, with Latvala in third position overall by the end of stage 2, and Haaf fastest 1600 on the first stage. Unfortunately mechanical problems put paid to both their chances, with Latvala arriving back at first service on the end of a tow-rope, and Haaf retiring on stage 6. Thompson was enjoying four-wheel drive for a change, and finding that it was more relaxing not having to wring the neck of a 1600, but a roll on stage 4 must have given him pause for thought. More worryingly, he felt that there might be some glass from the smashed windscreen in his eye, but luckily a trip to the first aid station sorted him out.
Another Saturday victim was Gwyndaf Evans. At first service, an oil leak was initially put down to a faulty driveshaft seal, but a closer inspection revealed that the gearbox was cracked. A lightning 18-minute change, however, put him back on the road with no delay. Also in trouble was just-crowned Scottish Rally Champion Barry Johnson - probably currently the most unpopular Englishman north of the border. He was forced to retire his Impreza WRC when the cam belt broke on stage 2.
As the crews arrived back at York at the end of Leg 1, Milner lead Reynolds by just under a minute, with Steve Petch third and Gwyndaf Evans an excellent fourth overall and leading the 1600 Category from Guy Wilks. However Gwyndaf was brought back to earth again early on Sunday morning when his clutch started giving cause for concern on stage 10. He and Chris Patterson managed to carry out temporary repairs that got the MG back to service, where the overworked mechanics managed to change the clutch and gearbox, plus replace a faulty alternator within the 20 minutes allocated. But it was a close-run thing, and Gwyndaf scattered a few people as he made his way from the service area to the next control.
