Austin MacHale has lost his battle to become the British Rally Champion by just 8.7 seconds.

Five times Irish Tarmac Rally Champion, Austin MacHale and British driver, David Higgins are locked in a frenetic battle to win the British Rally Championship on the Tempest Rally that concludes this afternoon.

TREVOR MOORE, in an Escort Cosworth, won the Toshiba Rally after he capitalised on the retirement of Robbie McGurk (Subaru) who set the pace through the first five stages.

The overall title may have been decided, but the battle is still very much on as the M.E.Crowe Northern Ireland Rally Championship heads into the forests of Co Antrim for the grand finale - the Toshiba Rally.

Having moved into fifth in the showroom class in the Condroz Rally, Roy White/Michael Patterson slipped a few places to end the day seventh in the category and 19th overall.