KEY POINTS:
Ford supremo Marcus Gronholm made an impressive start to the Rally of New Zealand, comfortably winning the first stage at Pirongia, south of Hamilton today.
The Finn, a three-time winner in New Zealand, clocked 15 minutes 09.7 seconds for the first of five stages on day one to lead fellow BP-Ford driver and compatriot Mikka Hirvonen (15min 15.6sec) by 5.9secs.
Austrian Manfred Stohl, driving a Peugeot, was third-fastest in 15min 20.7sec.
There were few reported dramas during the 20.38km stage though Australian Chris Atkinson slammed his Subaru into a bank early in his run though he was able to finish in 16min 28.7sec to provisionally place 14th.
Italian motorcycling legend Valentino Rossi, a major draw card for the penultimate round of this World Rally Championship, spun out in slippery conditions but crossed safely in 17min 46.9sec to be well down the 48-strong field.
- NZPA
