Ichikawa flew a distance of 535.8 kilometres at a speed of 107.2kph to take the maximum 1,000 points.

Kawa came second with 984 points, while Grabowski was a close third with 983.

The overall standings are still headed by Kawa on 2,574 points, followed by Ichikawa on 2,483.

Rounding out the top three is Belgium’s André-Emmanuel Litt, who finished fifth today, on 2,436 points. 

Organisers have confirmed home favourite Stephen O’Donnell is out of the race and now back in Benalla with his family after being involved in a mid-air collision with Germany's Michael Eisele on Saturday (January 14).

The two pilots, both of whom were forced to bail out of their aircraft and parachute to safety, were taken by helicopter to Canberra hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.

"I know that the good wishes of the worldwide gliding community go out to him and Michael Eisele," an FAI statement reads.

Today’s 18m class action saw O’Donnell’s compatriot Peter Temple edge out Germany’s Matthias Sturm for first place.

Temple flew 503.1km at 111.0kph to gain the 1,000 points, with Sturm claiming 997 and fellow Australian Tom Claffey collecting 989 after finishing third.

Sturm has retained his lead in the overall standings and has a 30-point advantage over nearest challenger Killian Walbrou of France, 33^rd today, on 3,788.

The United States’ Sean Fidler, 21^st today, is third with 3,697 points, while Temple is fifth behind Sweden’s Borje Eriksson. 

In the open class, there was a tie for top spot between Italy’s Alberto Sironi and Austria’s Sebastian Eder as both added 1,000 points to their tallies after flying a distance of 526.5km at 120.4kph.

Germany’s Tassilo Bode came third with 986 points, followed by compatriot Michael Sommer with 984.

Sommer is third in the overall standings on 3,768 points, trailing leader Russell Cheetham of Great Britain by 185 points.

Cheetham finished eighth today, three places behind fellow Briton Andrew Davis who is second in the overall standings - 12 points off the pace.