This led the organisers to amend the first day's stages considerably on the
previous evening, with the result that all three of the first leg's stages
were shortened to avoid the worst of the ice. However, despite this, the
day's first stage was cancelled for all runners and the field began their
competition on stage two, Sweet Lamb.

Tom and Gemma set the fastest time in their class, N3 for Group N cars up to
2000cc before heading for the much-shortened Myherin stage. However, that
was to be the limit of their action on the first loop, since a road accident
meant that the stage was stopped and subsequently cancelled for the
following runners, including Tom and Gemma.

Arriving at the mid-day service at Builth Wells, the pair already had a 22
second lead in their class, thanks to a steady run which went without a
hitch, while other competitors suffered a raft of problems.

"This morning was very tricky, and a little frustrating," said Tom at
service. "We've only done 4.5Km so far but the conditions are very
difficult. It's very slippery and muddy on the stages and they are already
quite rutted, up to a foot or so deep in places. I think this afternoon will
be very difficult, particularly on the second run through Sweet Lamb and
Myherin."

His words proved to be true, with the second run of the Hafren stage
cancelled, due to poor conditions. They were fastest through the second run
of Sweet Lamb and second fastest through the Myherin stage, to reach the
second halt of the day, immediately before a double-run of the Walters Arena
complex, maintaining their 22 second lead in the N3 class.

The two final stages of the day also passed without incident, with Tom and
Gemma taking another pair of class stage wins. By the time they returned to
the service area in Swansea for the final time, they had advanced even
further, to hold a 58-second lead in the N3 class, second two wheel-drive
car outright and 44th position overall.

Commenting on the day, Tom said; "I'm delighted with how today has gone and
if I'm honest, a little surprised. The main objective was to get to the end
of the day without any problems, which we have achieved. To do that and hold
the class lead in my first WRC event is incredible.

"We decided at the start of the day to take things easy and be pretty
cautious and as it transpired, it was the right decision. The conditions
were really bad, with the stages getting very rutted but we settled into a
safe pace, found a good rhythm in the car and it paid off for us.

"I think tomorrow has to be more of the same; find a pace that works and
stick to it. It looks as if the weather will be quite similar and that will
make conditions just as tricky, so we will have to keep our wits about us."

The second day of the event sees the crews tackling seven more stages, with
two loops of three followed by the now-customary superspecial in the
Millennium Stadium in the centre of Cardiff.

Ends