KEY POINTS:
Marcus Gronholm leads World Rally Championship (WRC) defending champion Sebastien Loeb by 13 seconds at the end of today's first five stages in the Rally New Zealand through Waikato.
Reigning New Zealand champion Gronholm, from Finland, constructed his advantage during a scorching early morning run through stages in Otorohanga and Waitomo.
Gronholm led Frenchman Loeb by 14.8 seconds at the first service break but Loeb narrowed the gap, albeit marginally, when the field returned to repeat this morning's programme before undertaking a short 3.14km stage at Mystery Creek.
Loeb, seeking to overhaul Gronholm's eight-point lead in the drivers' championship, won three of the five stages but the Finn's impressive start in tricky, muddy conditions was essentially protected.
Gronholm's BP-Ford World Rally Team teammate Mikko Hirvonen lies in third place, 49.2 seconds behind his compatriot.
The rally continues tomorrow with six stages, including another sprint stage around Mystery Creek. The final seven stages are scheduled for Sunday.
Day One Results
Leading placings after the first day's five stages in the three-day three-day, 18-stage Rally of New Zealand, a World Rally Championship event, in the Waikato today.-
World championship
Marcus Gronholm, Finland, Ford, 1 hour, 27 minutes, 20.1 seconds 1; Sebastian Loeb (France), Citroen, 1:27:33.1 2; Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Ford, 1:28.09.3 3; Chris Atkinson (Australia) Subaru, 1:28:41.5 4; Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Ford, 1:28:49.3 5; Daniel Sordo, (Spain) Citroen 1:28:53.6 6; Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru 1:29:08.6 7; Henning Solberg (Norway) Ford, 1:29:37.3 8; Urmo Aava (Estonia) Mitsubishi, 1:30:46.7 9; Matthew Wilson (Britain) Ford, 1:31:49.8 10.
NZ championship
Alistair McRae, E Kyle (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) 1hr 35 mins 19.6 secs 1; Dean Sumner, P Fallon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) 1.36.25.0 2; Sam Murray, R Ryan (Subaru Impreza WRX STI) 1.36.48.0 3; Richard Mason, S Randall (Subaru Impreza WRX STI) 1.36.57.2 4; Emma Gilmour, G Macneall (Subaru Impreza WRX STI) 1.37.28.2 5; Brett Martin, G Marra (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) 1.37.32.4 6.
Championship points: Murray 178 1, Mason 166 2, Sumner 166 4, Haydon Paddon 164 5, Callum McInnes 112 6, Emma Gilmour 99 7.
- NZPA
