AS the RSM Motorlodge supported Stage Championship moves to the privately owned Kidland Forest for the third of the six rounds, there is a battle ensuing in both the drivers and the co-drivers championship. Having navigated for both Geoff Wilson and Darren Atkinson on the past two forest rounds, Carnforth's Geoff Crabtree is joint leader in the co-drivers section and returns to Wilson's left hand seat for this Sunday's Lion stages. In the drivers championship, Halton's Phil Burton leads the main series and is tying for 4th place in the forest section with old adversary Bob Green of Kendal.

Before making the journey to Kidland, Crabtree has a date at Barbon on Saturday where he has a dual entry with Neil Mashiter in Mashiter's Escort Mk2 for the Clubman Hillclimb. After cancelling the championship round in May due to bad weather, Hillclimb fans will have their fingers crossed for decent weather this weekend.

Also travelling to Kidland on Sunday will be Katy Mashiter as she is co-driving for Joe Water in the Maines Amusements supported Sierra Cosworth 4x4. With the 12th position on the Pirelli Trophy Rally being the first event for Waters in the ex-Clive Sisson Cosworth, hopes are high of a competitive season as Waters gets to grips with Cosworth power.

Geoff Wilson and Geoff Crabtree in action.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.