After the first three special stages Mark Cronje/ Robin Houghton (Sasol Ford Fiesta) continues to lead the Polokwane Rally, but his advantage has been reduced to 13 seconds ahead of Jan Habig/Robert Paisley (Basil Read Ford Fiesta). Enzo Kuun/Guy Hodgson (BP Volkswagen Polo) has moved into third place 28 seconds behind the leaders after a good performance in stage tow and three.
Fourth overall and 37 seconds adrift are teammates Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries with Hein Lategan/Johan van der Merwe (SAC Peugeot 205) moving up into fifth place 40 seconds back.
Leeroy Poulter/Elvéne Coetzee (Castrol Toyota Auris) won stage three despite driving with a jury rigged repair on his car but is carrying a three minute lateness penalty.
Hans Weijs/Bjorn Degandt (BP Volkswagen Polo) have dropped back after experiencing electrical problems on stage three, they were able to make it back to the service park at the end of the stage and hope to effect repairs.
Teenage Henk Lategan and Barry White in the S2000 Challenge (Q8 Oils Volkswagen Polo) got their rally off to a flying start this morning with fifth fastest on stage one and sixth on stage two but were forced to retire on stage three with mechanical problems.
In the two wheel drive 1600 category young Ashley Haig-Smith and Craig Parry (Castrol Ford Fiesta R2) was nearly one minute ahead of second placed Guy Botterill/Simon Vacy-Lyle (Yato Tools Toyota RunX) after the first two special stages.
Tjaart Conradie/Kes Naidoo (Galvadip Toyota Auris) is third, four seconds back with Morne Janse van Rensburg/Rikus Fourie (GC Diesel Volkswagen) and Craig Trott/Robbie Coetzee rounding out the top five.
Clint Weston/Herman Groenewald (Reef Tankers Citroen C2), one of the fastest 1600’s were more than five minutes behind after a morning of mechanical maladies.
Three gravel stages remain before the final tarmac stage at the Peter Mokaba Stadium this afternoon.
