Norwegian Petter Solberg, driving his privately-entered Citroen C4 world rally car, leads Rally New Zealand, after the first day of competition on ultra-slippery gravel roads north of Auckland. Solberg, a firm favourite with New Zealand rally fans, set the pace in the fifth round of the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship from the outset, winning stage one and opening a narrow lead over Sébastien Ogier’s similar car, despite running second on the road.


For world champion and 2010 series leader, Sébastien Loeb who was driving first on the road in his works Citroen, the thick gravel on the dry Northland roads was a nightmare. “There was absolutely no grip,” he said. “It was like driving a boat.” After stage one he was fourth overall.

Worse was to come for Loeb on the morning’s final test on Cassidy Road when the Frenchman hit a bridge and completed the stage holding the door shut with his left elbow. He dropped to eighth overall, 1m 40.3 seconds behind the then rally leader, his teammate Dani Sordo.

Loeb fought back strongly in the four afternoon gravel stages, which included three repeat runs through the morning’s tests. He took one stage win and finished second in three. By the end of the day he was seventh, 1m 19.8s behind the rally leader. “I push it really, really hard but it’s difficult to make (up any time),” he said after the final gravel stage.

Source: Solberg has overnight lead in Rally New Zealand

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