Auckland, Apr 18: Second-placed Marcus Gronholm edges closer to leader Petter Solberg on day two of the New Zealand rally. World champion Petter Solberg was still in the lead of the New Zealand Rally on Saturday (April 17) at the end of day two, but former world champion Marcus Gronholm shaved 11.5 seconds over the day from the Norwegian's lead. Solberg's Subaru began Saturday 31 seconds ahead of Gronholm, who was lying in third place overnight in his Peugeot. Gronholm, who rolled his car on Friday, suffered hydraulic problems on the 12th stage on Saturday and fell to fourth overall but he surged back to go fastest on stages 14 and 15 to move up to second place. Over the day he reduced Solberg's 31 second lead to just 19.5. Third overall is Estonia's Markko Martin in his Ford with Finland's Harri Rovanpera fourth. Fifth and sixth are the Citroen pair of Sebastien Loeb of France and Spain's Carlos Sainz.


On Saturday Gronholm was quickest in four of the eight stages while Solberg took the last of the day. Martin was fastest in two and Loeb took one, stage 16.


Sunday's final day returns to the west coast of the North Island, south of Auckland, for six more stages -- two identical loops of three stages.


Leading positions in the New Zealand Rally on Saturday after 18 of the 23 stages: 1. Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru two hour 42 minutes 11.4 seconds. 2. Marcus Gronholm (Finland) Peugeot +19.5 seconds behind 3. Markko Martin (Estonia) Ford +24.2 4. Harri Rovanpera (Finland) Peugeot +45.1 5. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen +1:01.3 6. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Citroen +2:10.8

Bureau Report