KEY POINTS:
As Marcus Gronholm prepares for one of his favourite events by checking his pace notes of the twists and turns of the Waikato roads, he should have co-driver Timo Rautiainen circle the whole event as a turning point.
The world championship-leading Finn's attention to detail is in the spotlight this week following his mistake late in the German Rally last weekend that cost him four crucial championship points and allowed defending world champion Sebastian Loeb back into the title race.
"There is no more or less pressure. I will be trying to drive as fast as I possibly can but without making a mistake, that is the key," the two-time world champion said on his arrival in New Zealand yesterday.
Gronholm, who has a slim eight-point lead over Loeb, knows if he makes a similar error, he could leave New Zealand in the all-too-familiar position of trailing the Frenchman.
In the 38th Rally New Zealand, Gronholm hopes to become the most successful driver at the event with five wins, superseding Spain's Carlos Sainz.
"You know it would be very nice. But I have not really thought about it. I am first needing to concentrate on winning. I have always liked the New Zealand roads. They are very similar to home in Finland. That has always made it enjoyable to drive here."
With 10 of the 16 rounds completed, this round has huge importance for Gronholm as he tries to end Loeb's dominance of the WRC.
For the 33-year-old Frenchman, who has won the world title for the past three years, it is a different scenario to what he is used to.
Loeb, who had a record-breaking season in 2005 with a phenomenal 10 wins, has set the benchmark the past few seasons in much the same way Michael Schumacher did from 2000 in Formula One. But in 2007, it is Gronholm who has set the pace and Loeb who is playing catch-up.
Although Loeb is known for his meticulous preparation, his knowledge of the stages that weave through the Waikato, King Country and Franklin districts is limited. He has not driven
any of the first two legs competitively, as last year he was still recovering from a broken arm suffered in a mountain-biking accident.
This ruled him out of the last four rallies of 2006 and his lack of knowledge may affect his performance. Adding to the uncertainty is the recent problems that Citroen have experienced with their engines.
Loeb's team-mate Dani Sordo had engine failures in the last two rounds so the engines sent to New Zealand before then must be a concern.
But there is the unknown for Gronholm too: how will he handle the pressure of leading the championship into the final six rounds?
It has been a long time between drinks for the 39-year-old. He won the WRC in 2000 and 2002 and this is his best chance to end the era of Loeb dominance.
"I will be aiming for the win. You know an eight point lead in the championships is not very much. Of course it is better to have the lead than not. But we will be going out to win and to make sure we do not do anything silly at the same time."
The uncharacteristic mistake in Germany when trying to hold off a flying Francois Duval could be seen as a sign of the pressure.
In the build-up this week, the Finn will have his co-driver check his pace notes time and time again but one turning point that he won't need reminding of is the importance of this rally.
