Gronholm Eyeing New Zealand Win

The Peugeot driver currently lies eight points off World Championship leader Petter Solberg in the drivers' standings after a troubled start to his campaign, and is well aware he must not lose further ground if he is to maintain any hopes of another title.

Although Gronholm drove to a conservative second place in the recent Rally Mexico which has helped his Peugeot team to the top of the manufacturers' standings, his early title charge was derailed by an embarrassing exit from the Swedish Rally and a late crash in the season-opening Monaco event that dropped him down the order to finish fifth.

Well aware that the pressure will be on him to bring his Peugeot home well up the order in New Zealand, Gronholm is upbeat about his prospect for an event he has won three times in the past.

"It's a rally I like very much," said the Finn. "I can't wait to be back in New Zealand and I'm hoping for a good result. As in Mexico, my main objective will be to finish in the points but that doesn't rule out going for a win.

"In 2004, I finished second when the 307 WRC was still very new. The situation is different this time."