Team-mates François Delecour and Daniel Grataloup have yet to get into the groove of Rally New Zealand and the French pair end the day in 14th position. "The car’s perfect, but the driver isn’t", said François. "I just don’t have any feeling with it today; it’s not the car, it’s me. I feel it’s sliding everywhere and losing traction; I really don’t understand. Stage six was better, but there’s not a lot we can change, other than my head!"

Adding to the drivers’ comments, Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team director John Easton said: "We’re delighted with Jani’s first scratch time, for him and the car, especially on his first visit to New Zealand. We were a bit surprised, but Jani has showed his potential earlier in the year and the conditions and nature of the event clearly suit his driving style. We’ve had some problems with François today, but we’ll look at the car tonight and see what we can change to get him back on the pace. At this time, I think it’s reasonable to be targeting a podium finish for Jani".

Meanwhile...

It’s been difficult to judge whether road position has been a significant factor during the opening leg of Rally New Zealand, the pace of Marcus Grönholm and Richard Burns - running first and second on the road - defying the theory that cars at the head of the field are disadvantaged by layers of loose gravel. Burns (Peugeot) seized the initiative from the outset, the Briton setting four fastest stage times throughout the day to overnight 18.3 seconds ahead of second-placed Harri Rovanperä. Peugeot team-mate Marcus Grönholm holds third with one fastest stage time to his credit, although the Finn lost time with hydraulic and clutch problems in stages two and five respectively. Tommi Mäkinen (Subaru) inched into fourth in the final stage of the leg, the Finn creeping ahead of Mitsubishi’s Jani Paasonen after an incident-free day. Petter Solberg (Subaru) is absolutely hot on his heels in sixth, the duo split by an incredible one-tenth of second after nearly 120 kilometres of competition. The Norwegian did however have a scare when he spun in stage four and came to rest on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. Markko Märtin (Ford) has struggled to find a good rhythm, but changes to the anti-roll bars and differentials have instilled the confidence the Estonian needed and he lies seventh overnight. Freddy Loix and Juha Kankkunen (both Hyundai) are neck and neck in eighth and ninth respectively, with Carlos Sainz (Ford) rounding off the top ten after dropping time when he stalled the engine at the start of stage one and spun in stage four. In quite an unprecedented situation, he too is just one-tenth of a second adrift of Kankkunen. Leading retirements today include Kenneth Eriksson (Skoda), who went off when he lost the brakes, and Colin McRae (Ford) who also went off the road when he misheard a pace note, hit a fence post and damaged the radiator.

Kristian Sohlberg has set an impressive pace on his first attempt at the rally, but the Finnish Lancer Evolution driver was angry with himself after picking the wrong tyres for some of the longest stages of the leg.

"We spun once and nearly went off the road three times, but we are still here and we still have a chance. It’s a tough rally and we need to avoid mistakes if we can, but I am very happy now", Sohlberg commented.

Italian Giovanni Manfrinato has put in a fine showing to lead the charge for Mitsubishi for much of the leg in his Lancer Evolution, finishing the leg in a fine second place.

"It’s been a tough day: these are long stages and it is not easy when there are so many quick drivers here, but the car has been very good and we are not far behind the leader", Manfrinato said.

Argentine star Marcos Ligato has been a regular pacesetter this season and he had forced his way up to third in the World Championship classification until incurring penalties for leaving service before the super special stages late. He has dropped down the order to 10th in the production category. Alex Fiorio holds fourth with former World Champion Stig Blomqvist fifth ahead of Martin Rowe, all driving Mitsubishis.

Still to come...

The second leg, based in the north around the harbour town Ruawai - famed for its shark fishing - is the longest, both in terms of hours in the car and stage distance. The ten special stages cover 204.13 kilometres, but the 17-hour leg also incorporates the longest stage in the FIA World Rally Championship (outside the Safari Rally), the 59 kilometre Parahi, which could well prove to be the decider.

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER LEG 1