Eriksson: I've no regrets.

Hyundai's Kenneth Eriksson, ecstatic to be leading overnight, was set a more difficult challenge on the second leg of Rally New Zealand by placing himself first on the road, and dropping down the order as a result, to end the day in 11th position.

On leg one it was the job of current championship leader Tommi Makinen to clean the loose surface gravel from the smooth and flowing roads for the cars following.

Starting the day at the front on leg two, it was Eriksson's job to do the same and the Swede paid a high price in terms of stage times as a result. The second day's stages were covered with a thick layer of dry, slippery gravel and Kenneth dropped down the order by over a minute in the first stage alone, the longest stage of the FIA World Rally Championship, the demanding 59 kilometre Parahi/Ararua.

The Swede was well aware of the conditions that would be presented to him and co-driver Staffan Parmander, and relished the challenge.

"I knew it would be very difficult today but I really did enjoy today's stages. I have no regrets about being first on the road as it felt fantastic to be leading a WRC rally for the first time in four years, and for the first time ever for Hyundai," commented the winner of the 1997 event.

"Stage nine, the long one, was just as we expected with a lot of dirt. But I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the stages today; the car ran perfectly and the balance and tyres were good and while the car is feeling good, I will continue to push as hard as I can. There are not so many kilometres tomorrow but I should be able to set more competitive times as I'll be in a better road position if it remains dry," concluded Eriksson.

British team-mates Alister McRae and David Senior, running in a more favourable seventh position on the road, also had a relatively trouble-free run.

"We've just been pushing as hard as we can - when the ground is cleaner everything is fine, but traction's harder when there's more gravel," said the 30-year-old Scot. "On stage 15 we had a puncture - the mousse worked but we felt a vibration so we didn't push too hard. But there is still a lot to play for tomorrow and the stages suit the car better so should be more favourable; we just have to work to pass Petter [Solberg] and gain as much time as we can."

The third and final leg takes crews back down south for the remaining eight stages, three of which are repeated, covering 89 competitive kilometres around Te Kauwhata, before arriving at the Manukau City Sports Bowl finish at 15:25.