Another local pairing, Regan Hall and Nathan Graham (Porsche 997 Turbo), were also right up there, finishing 0.1sec behind Dippie and Ball through the penultimate 7.2km Saddle Hill stage south of the city, and heading to the final one over George King Memorial Dr in fourth place, just 15.5sec behind third-placed Auckland pair David Rogers and Aidan Kelly (Mitsubishi Evo 10).
In a dramatic day on and off the road, surprise day-one package Haydn Mackenzie and co-driver Matty Sayers (Mitsubishi Evo 10) held a lead of just over a minute until they crashed out of the event on the first stage after the lunch and service break in Milton, the 9.9km Finlayson Rd run from Waihola to Taieri Mouth.
That left four-time event winners Inkster and Winn holding both the overall event lead and 2&4WD Extreme class lead.
However, exhaust issues with their highly-modified Mitsubishi meant they could only manage the 11th-fastest time on the Saddle Hill stage, and as they crossed the Taieri Plain and headed towards Maungatua to the final stage, their lead over Dippie and Ball was just 17sec, with 41sec back to Rogers and Kelly.
With their car repaired, Inkster and Winn not only retained their lead but built a buffer of just over a minute from Dippie and Ball through the 30km George King Memorial stage. Fourth-best time, meanwhile, was enough to elevate Regan Hall and Nathan Graham to third overall.
The open, fast and flowing nature of the day's stages also helped Hamilton event regular Mike Tubbs and co-driver Mike Vincent lift to fifth overall in Tubbs' new BMW 2-series.
As the field left Invercargill yesterday morning, the modified class 10 Subaru Impreza WRXs of event regulars Leigh Hopper and co-driver Michael Goudie, and fellow Aucklanders Nick de Waal and Shane Reynolds, were also in the leading mix. Both cars broke down, however, either in (Hopper) or just as they were leaving (de Waal) the long first stage through the Catlins, putting both pairs out on the spot.
A failed engine sensor made highly-favoured gravel rally specialist Derek Ayson and co-driver Gavin McDermott, both from Gore, late away from the start when Ayson's Holbay-engined Mk11 Ford Escort failed to start first pop.
Once the sensor was replaced Ayson spent the day on the charge, working his way up the order to be within striking distance of early HW Richardson Classic 2WD class leaders, Mark and Chris Kirk-Burnnand from Wellington.
The Wellingtonians entered the day's final stage in 14th place, about 30sec and two places ahead of Ayson and McDermott, but over 2min ahead of the Mercedes-Benz 190 Cosworth of Aucklanders Mark McCaughan and Lyndsey Lyons lying third in class.
After the first of two overnight stops in parc ferme at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night, the third day will take competitors north for eight closed-course special stages between Waikouaiti and Duntroon.
