Huge crowds were treated to thrilling action tonight as the fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship began with two short identical speed tests at Manukau, on the edge of Auckland. Two cars at a time raced side-by-side around a purpose-built floodlit track which included a water splash, a breathtaking jump and long, sweeping hairpin bends.
The rally marks the debut for the 2004 Ford Focus RS World Rally Car and Markko Märtin and Michael Park, victorious in Mexico last month, ensured a winning start by speeding to fastest time on the opening test. The Ford BP Rallye Sport duo were quickest by 0.4sec in their Castrol-backed Focus RS with team-mates François Duval and Stéphane Prévot just 0.5sec behind in third in a similar car.
The 28-year-old Estonian was third fastest on the second run, just 0.3sec behind stage winner Petter Solberg with Duval another 0.1sec behind. So as the cars returned to the rally base in the centre of Auckland, Märtin was third overall, 0.6sec behind leader Solberg. Duval lay fourth, 1.2sec behind the Norwegian.
"It was an exciting start to the rally," said Märtin. "The crowds were big and I think they had a good evening's entertainment. The stages are short so the time differences are small and that provides plenty of excitement. The rally starts for real in the morning and I'm really looking forward to driving the New Zealand roads again. The stages are fast, flowing and great to drive so I hope we have a good day."
The two special stages proved disastrous for Mitsubishi pair Gilles Panizzi and Kristian Sohlberg. Both cars stopped after the first test with electrical problems and failed to start the second stage, bringing an early retirement for both.
After tonight's crowd-pleasing tests, the action for real begins tomorrow morning. Drivers leave Auckland at 05.30 for a long day in the Northland region, 140km north. Under the new Mille Pistes rally format, being used for the first time in the world championship, drivers must complete their second practice pass through the special stages early in the morning. Then they face five stages close to the Paparoa service park before returning to Auckland for another two tests at Manukau - a total of 137.72km. They arrive at the overnight halt in the city at 21.00.
Leaderboard after stage 2 of 23
1. P Solberg/P Mills N Subaru Impreza 2min 47.6sec2. M Grönholm/T Rautiainen FIN Peugeot 307 2min 48.1sec 3. M Märtin/M Park EE Ford Focus RS 2min 48.2sec4. F Duval/S Prévot B Ford Focus RS 2min 48.8sec 5. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Subaru Impreza 2min 49.4sec5= H Rovanperä/R Pietilainen FIN Peugeot 307 2min 49.4sec 7. H Solberg/C Menkerud N Peugeot 206 2min 50.7sec8. D Carlsson/M Andersson S Peugeot 206 2min 50.8sec9. S Loeb/D Elena F Citroen Xsara 2min 54.3sec10 C Sainz/M Marti E Citroen Xsara 2min 55.4sec
