26. The leaders are having problems, and we might have a surprise winner of the rally. The winner could be a first-time victor, or even a 2WD car! The first problem was the Mitsubishi Evo of Frank Sprongl/Dan Sprongl, which lost its engine on stage #5 while leading the rally. Then, on stage #6, the new leading Subaru of Richard/Richard lost its brakes, and couldn’t stop at an acute corner, going right through some banner tape and off the road. Richard got back on the road, but lost 45 seconds to the new leaders - the Subaru Impreza of Shane Mitchell/Glenn Patterson. Mitchell, one of the few drivers who could actually catch Richard in the Group N points, could do standings damage if he beats Patrick here. Lurking in fourth place - and having a terrific rally - is the 2WD Group 5 Dodge SRT4 of Paul Choiniere/Cindy Krolikowski, right behind the Mitsubishi Evo VIII of Thomas Lawless/Jason Gillespie. Who’s gonna win?

27. Only 37 cars started stage 8, and there’s a long list of DNF’s since the start of stage #5. Besides the Sprongles mentioned above, here are others we know about - no injuries reported:

#876, Birbilis/Vicente, Open, Ford Escort - Stage 8 (rolled)
#774, Dimiters/Monin, Group N, Subaru Impreza - Stage 7 (rolled)
#52, Shepherd/Gladysz, Group 5, Dodge SRT4 - Stage 8 (mechanical)
#914, Nash/Fries, Open, Mitsubishi Evo - Stage 8 (two flat tires)
#995, Drislane/Pollard, Open, Mitsubishi Lancer - Stage 7 (mechanical)
#59, Moro/Smith, Open, Subaru WRX - Stage 7 (unknown)
#912, Cassidy/Getchell, Open, Subaru Impreza - Stage 5 (engine)
#908, Kelbel/Sekella, Group 5, Dodge Shadow - Stage 6 (unknown)
#91, Bottoms/Bottoms, Group N, Subaru WRX - Stage 5 (center dif.)
#41, Drislane/Burke, Open, Mitsubishi Evo VI - Stage 9 (unknown)

28. The dream of Patrick Richard to win four in a row and virtually clinch the title is fading fast he lost more than nine minutes to the field on stage #9. No details yet available.

29. The rally will end in less than one hour - the next notes will have results.

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