Apr 08: Richard Burns is hoping for a wet weekend in Auckland to improve conditions for the Rally of New Zealand which starts on Friday. The Peugeout driver leads the championship race by just a single point ahead of fellow Brit Colin McRae.

And Burns, who is first out on track, knows that a bit of rain would help tame the sun-baked gravel roads.
"I will be first on the road on leg one and that could prove a disadvantage if the going is dry," Burns said.

"That's why I would really like it to rain on day one."

Burns is concerned that his pace in New Zealand will be slowed up by loose gravel.
Bureau Report