“The surface is nice to drive on because it's smooth and there are no big rocks to hit the car and cause damage. The Focus RS is strong and can take big hits but it helps knowing that the chances of finding rocks and boulders on the driving line are virtually non-existent.”
Mikko Hirvonen meanwhile is also expecting to do well too and he believes that it will be ‘realistic’ for him to aim for the win.
Indeed after pushing Gronholm hard in Finland, the 27-year-old is keen to again go for the top prize.
"The stages in New Zealand are fantastic, proper drivers' roads with corner following corner and they're great to attack,” said Mikko. “After my performance in Finland I can't wait to go there because I want to repeat what I did in Finland.
“Last year I wasn't so far behind Marcus' speed so I think it's realistic to aim to fight for a win.”
Mikko has done the Rally NZ three times to date and thus far has a 100 per cent finishing record, having come home second last year, seventh in 2004 and tenth in 2003.
OMV Kronos Citroen WRT:
[Manfred Stohl, car #5]
Stohl going solo again.
Manfred Stohl has promised to do his all on the Rally New Zealand, as the Belgian-based operation reverts back to a one-car line-up.
The OMV Kronos Citroen WRT picked up its best result of the season on the Rallye Deutschland two weeks ago, when ‘new boy’,
Francois Duval took second in his Citroen Xsara WRC.
For Stohl though the German event was not so good and engine problems forced him out on day 2, while he was running just inside the top ten.
Despite that though, Duval’s success has shown him just what is doable with the package: “Francois Duval has proven in Germany what is possible when everything comes together perfectly,” said Manfred pre-NZ.
“A podium place may be extremely difficult to reach in New Zealand but a result among the top five is possible. I will at least do my all to make my fans proud of me once again.”
