LATE THIS AFTERNOON (TUESDAY) SCANDINAVIAN DRIVERS WERE CLINGING TO THE FIRST FOUR PLACES IN THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE INTERNATIONAL RALLY. LEADING WAS THE SWEDISH VOLVO DRIVER TOM TRANA, WHO LOST ONLY 18 MARKS OVER THE EARLY STAGES.

IN SECOND PLACE WAS GUNNAR ANDERSON (22 MARKS) AND CLOSE BEHIND H. KULLSTROM, ANOTHER SWEDE AND T. MACKONEN OF FINLAND.

ERIC CARLSSON, THE SWEDISH DRIVER WHO HAS WON THIS RALLY FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AND STARTED FAVOURITE ON THIS OCCASION, DROPPED BEHIND WHEN HE MADE A MISTAKEN ON THE SECOND SPECIAL STAGE. THIS COST HIM 18 POINTS AND DROPPED HIM A DOZEN PLACES IN THE STANDINGS.

TONIGHT 141 SURVIVORS FROM THE 160 CREWS WHO STARTED IN THE RALLY WERE BATTLING OVER RUGGED SCOTTISH COUNTRYSIDE TO PEEBLES. THE DRIVERS WILL COVER 3,540 KILOMETRES AND THE FIRST IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE FINISHING LINE AT BOURNEMOUTH ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

FILM SHOWS CARLSSON IN HIS SAAB AND SEVERAL OTHER COMPETITORS ON THE SCOTTISH SECTION OF THE RALLY. THE ROUTE HERE IS REFERRED TO AS THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FOREST.