Gronholm top in shakedown

Despite his positive start, the Finn admitted he was not looking forward to the rally which looks set to be run in changeable conditions. The wet weather which hit this morning's shakedown stage, east of the event's Perth base, is expected to continue into legs one and two.

"I prefer the dry," said Gronholm, who has won three of the last four WRC rounds in Australia. "Normally we have no rain here, so it can make it quite tough. The roads will be very difficult in the rain, but when there's a strong wind they do dry out quite quickly."

Last year's Rally Australia winner Petter Solberg is predicting one of the best battles this season for the coming three days of competition down under. Both Solberg and Sebastien Loeb arrive in Perth gunning for a sixth win of the season, which would equal Didier Auriol's 1994 record for the most wins in a season.

"We're in for a hell of a show," said the Frenchman. "It's going to be one of the best. As for the six thing, it's just a number."

Solberg and Loeb were the pace-setters in Australia last season and given their pace on gravel rounds of the championship recently, that trend looks set to continue.

Loeb said: "Last year I led from the start, but then Petter beat me in the last two or three stages and won the race. This year is going to be another big fight, like we have had many times this season. It would be nice to get six wins, but when we are not going to beat the record number of wins in a season, maybe it's not so important."