 A Gronholm victory will clinch the manufacturers' title for Ford |
Ford's Marcus Gronholm extended his lead in the Rally of New Zealand by winning three of Saturday's six stages after taking all five on day one. Mikka Hirvonen lies second, with Manfred Stohl of Austria leapfrogging Dani Sordo into third in his Peugeot.
Five-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi improved from 24th to 11th overall in a private Subaru.
Gronholm took the opening stage of the day but then drove cautiously as the course was hit by driving rain.
"It was a good day for us," Gronholm said. "It was not so nice in the morning with the heavy rain but in the afternoon it was OK."
606 DEBATE: Can Gronholm be stopped?
Gronholm also claimed the ninth stage and capped the day with victory in the final stage of the day, a short super special.
Gronholm can clinch Ford's first manufacturers' title in 11 years if he completes victory on Sunday.
"We have to come to the finish, not do anything stupid," he said. "We just hope everything works in the car but so far so good."
Leading positions at the end of day two
1. Marcus Gronholm, Finland, Ford, 2 hours, 56 minutes, 17.2 seconds.
2. Mikka Hirvonen, Finland, Ford, 2:57.07.
3. Manfred Stohl, Austria, Peugeot 2.58.23.
4. Dani Sordo, Spain, Citroen, 2:58.40.
5. Xavier Pons, Spain, Citroen, 2.58.55.
6. Petter Solberg, Norway, Subaru, 2:59.42.
7. Luis Perez Companc, Argentina, Ford, 3:04.58.
8. Jari-Matti Latvala, Finland, Subaru, 3:07.25.
9. Mirco Baldacci, San Marino, Mitsubishi, 3:07.29.
10. Richard Mason, New Zealand, Subaru, 3:08.45.
11. Valentino Rossi, Italy, Subaru, 3:13.03.
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