The calm before the storm

The top four have consolidated their position with MTR's 'Professional Passionate Engineers' and Atkins Asia Pacific's 'Prevail' holding onto places 1 and 2, MTR's 'Synergy' have leapfrogged Arup's 'AgRUP of MEN' into 3rd . This means that the first three places are held by teams from Hong Kong. Aurecon's 'Invictus' climb two places to 5th and are back into the top six. Vic Roads' 'MNW' slip one to 6th only 70 points ahead of Mott Mac's 'Buckingham Palace'. The other high ranking Mott Mac team 'Motts of Steel' slipped from 6th to 13th now 233 points off position 6th. However the average performance improvement was 9% and recovery is very possible in one of the two rounds left.

Of the top six only Vic Roads are new to MERIT and all the others have had teams in MERIT finals. Arups are the only previously winning sponsor in the top six. Mott Mac lurking in 7th are also previous winners.

Overall 36 teams improved their position with the biggest movers being Atkins' 'Astron' and Amey's 'Pace' both moving up 13 places.

The standard deviation of the percentage improvement increased from 5% to 6% indicating greater variability, normally this increases in the last rounds as some decisions become a little wild as teams try to depose the leaders who are sitting there wondering how to defend their position Two rounds to go, there will be greater movement.

Preliminary results, subject to change. (Teams with a zero score have requested late submission)