Day 4 is all about the forests fields waterholes sandy tracks and wide open spaces round and about Glebokie in Drawsko Pomorski. Fringed with beautiful lakes, sweet smelling woodlands with the scent of summer, it was up and early for the competitors eager to make a start on a long days racing. For previous Breslau competitors the hundreds of acres of military ranges are a familiar place, but due to its  vast size there are lots of new routes among old favourites. For the UK competitors in SS3  Taffy Lloyd is in 15th place and Mike Brown on 34 after a 2 hour penalty, still well within the top 40; Tony King is in 36th, still making good progress in the Enduro Class.

The first section was on sandy roads with ruined tanks and other military markers standing like sentinels among scrubby grass on the huge plain. The next stage   in the forest included  whoop de doos that went  on  for ever, this time some  with pools of water that you didn’t know were there until you reached the crest. That over, there were plenty of  boggy bits in between. Another section saw mayhem in the woods and waterways with bikes, SSV’s cars and trucks arriving in the same time frame and the result was some thrilling action.

The next area  was a woodland wonder where a clear running stream through waterlogged scrub trees saw the SSV’s power over a small stream  and the  competitors carry on to tackle  a series of whoop de doos  muddy tracks and winding runs through pastureland and forest.

Finally, a long dragging water run where cars could compete two or more at a time was a great closer for  an excellent days action. Mike Brown said the last three days as part of team Taffmeister  had been “ enjoyable, but it’s  getting steadily more difficult - each  day is  harder than the last, and longer. The weather has also made it different this year; it’s not loose windblown sand and huge billowing dust clouds”.

Tomorrow  we move camp to near the Czech Border., so racing is only for half a day to allow competitors to prepare for the legendary Hannibal stages.  Great days, great racing at the Breslau.