Solberg leads way in NZ

The Norwegian pipped Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm to head the timesheets for the second assault on the 2.1km track, while Subaru team-mate Mikko Hirvonen and Harri Rovanpera in the second works Peugeot 307 WRC both improved on their first runs to take third and fourth.

Markko Martin was unable to repeat his form from the first run, finishing fifth this time round in the new Ford Focus WRC04, ahead of team-mate Francois Duval. Daniel Carlsson and Henning Solberg in the privateer Peugeot 206 WRCs were again up amongst the works cars in seventh and eighth places.

The Citroen drivers struggled again, although this time Sebastien Loeb managed to finish ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz to take ninth place, with the Spaniard just behind in 10th. The Mitsubishi Lancers of Gilles Panizzi and Kristian Sohlberg have both suffered electrical problems which have dropped them down the order.

Solberg now leads the overall standings for the event, ahead of Gronholm, Martin, Duval, Rovanpera and Hirvonen, with the privateer cars of Solberg and Carlsson edging Loeb and Sainz to the rear end of the top 10.