With repeats of the first three stages left to go the fight was over the last two remaining podium positions. Cole and Ling were tied for second fastest on SS5, whilst Nicholls was second to Burton on SS6. Ling meanwhile who had been in a podium position, lost time with an off road excursion and Cole suffered a puncture near the end.
This meant that going into Stage 7, the second run through Route 60, Damian Cole headed Will Nicholls by 5 seconds. From Roger Chilman, who led the Production class, back to Sebastian Ling, now down in 7th position, there were only a handful of seconds involved.
Burton duly took his seventh stage win in a row to win the rally by an amazing 1 minute 18 seconds. However Nicholls went 2 seconds faster than Damian Cole, losing out on second overall by a mere 3 seconds.
Ling and James Wozencroft, in a Suzuki Ignis S1600 for this event, were both equalled on times with Cole but the production class win would go to Roger Chilman.
Wozencroft had overcome a day long battle with Graham Middleton in an F2 Hyundai Coupe to take top 2wd honours, whilst Neil Weaver won his third Quinton Stages in a row to take the 1400cc honours.
As for championship positions, well its all close at the top. Pye holds the advantage with three rounds still to go, but David Howells is only 7 points further back. Both Nicholls and Cole, in World Rally Cars, are still very much in with a shout and as a result the action should be fierce when battle resumes on the Woodpecker Stages on September 1.
![Andy Burton [Pic credit: Geoff Mayes Media / www.geoffmayesmedia.com]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/347700.jpg)
