Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart suffered bitter disappointment today when the team’s Finnish crew were forced out of the event from an impressive fifth position. Jani Paasonen and Arto Kapanen had set a stunning pace in Rally New Zealand, but hit the sidelines in the daunting 59 kilometre Parahi/Ararua stage. Team-mates François Delecour and Daniel Grataloup hold 10th position at the end of the second day of competition.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC2 Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart J. Paasonen / A. Kapanen

Sixty-six of the original 81 crews contesting Rally New Zealand left Auckland early this morning for the second leg of this 12th round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Today was by far the longest, both in terms of stage distance and hours in the car, the route’s 10 special stages and 204 competitive kilometres equating to 17 hours behind the wheel. Based around the harbour town of Ruawai, 160 kilometres to the north of Auckland, the crews enjoyed warm and sunny weather throughout the leg, although the dry conditions emphasised the disadvantage of running first on the road, today’s route always anticipated to be the worst of the three in this regard.

The Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crew of Jani Paasonen and Arto Kapanen continued to set a hot pace in the Lancer Evolution WRC2 this morning, the Finnish pair sixth and fourth quickest through the opening two stages to maintain fifth position. "The feeling was again very good this morning but I think I pushed too hard on the first of those two stages, maybe carrying a bit too much speed into the corners and the car was sliding too much", said Jani. "On the second stage I didn’t push quite as hard, eased the pace back, and the times were better. It seems to be that if I push too hard I over- drive the car. I was driving as I did in Finland - maximum attack minus - and the car works better with that approach". However, special stage 11 - the longest in the rally and the FIA World Rally Championship - proved to be decisive for Paasonen. The Finn was forced onto the sidelines from fifth overall when he went off the road just eight kilometres into the 59 kilometre stage.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC2 Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart J. Paasonen / A. Kapanen

"It was on a left-hand corner and we went into it a bit too fast, braked a bit late and slid wide off the road", said Jani. "We rolled about four metres down a bank and although we got the car back onto its wheels again, the radiator was damaged and we’d lost all the water, so there was no way to continue. Obviously it’s a shame, but at the same time I’m happy to have set some good times. We’re learning all the time with the team, and now I’m looking forward to the next rally with a big smile on my face. Australia has roads similar to here, very slippery and although I’ve only been once before, it’s important to keep the car on a clean line. I’m really looking forward to it after the experience we’ve gained here and the times we set".

Team-mates François Delecour and Daniel Grataloup have had a better feeling today, however the French pair have struggled running first on the road, sweeping layers of loose gravel for the following cars. "It’s very difficult being first on the road, I reckon we were losing about a second and a half a kilometre", said François, who overnights in 10th after a big fight to overhaul Armin Schwarz in order not to run first on the road tomorrow. "We’ve had a look at the data from Jani’s car to try and understand how he drives here and you can see he was braking hard and then immediately getting back on the power, which obviously worked in these conditions. It’s not been easy to catch Armin today, but that was our goal and we did it. Tomorrow we’ll continue to refine the style of driving, and see what we can do".

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart F. Delecour / D. Grataloup

Mitsubishi Motors driver Kristian Sohlberg tops the classification in the 2002 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship after the second leg of the penultimate round, Rally New Zealand. Driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Finland’s Sohlberg leads a host of Mitsubishi drivers, who hold almost all the leading positions in the Production class.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Gr.N K. Sohlberg / J. Honkanen