Swansong for world rally leader in New Zealand?

6 August 2007

Attention Sports Editors

Swansong for world rally leader in New Zealand?

Finland’s Marcus Gronholm may be looking at a successful swansong when he heads to New Zealand this month for the World Rally Championship.

Gronholm will be hoping for further success on his favourite rally roads to seal the world title in the 38th Rally New Zealand, which is round 11 of the FIA World Rally Championship, which will be based in Hamilton, heading to the King Country, Waikato and Franklin districts from 30 August to 2 September.

He now leads the championship by 13 points over two-time defending champion Sebastien Loeb after winning his seventh Rally of Finland on home turf today.

Gronholm has hinted that he may retire from the sport at the end of the season, but not before he has added a third world championship after wins in 2000 and 2002.

Four of the remaining seven rounds of the championship will be on tarmac, where Loeb and his Citroen have been virtually unstoppable. That will make the fast and flowing gravel roads of New Zealand a key for the Ford driver’s chances of sealing victory.

A win in New Zealand will make Gronholm the most successful driver in the history of the event, as he currently shares four wins here with the great Carlos Sainz.

Gronholm, 40, said he has not made any definitive decision on his future.

“I would like to reflect a little bit for a week now and the most important thing is that we have still seven rounds to go and I would like to win the championship. It’s not the best time to make such a decision now,” Gronholm said.

His Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson said he wants Gronholm to stay.

“Everyone will know what a great loss Marcus would be to the championship. At the end of the day we will respect whatever decision he comes to.

“We don’t need to rush into it. It is more important we stay focused for the rest of the championship."

The new Ford enjoyed a one-two finish in Finland with Mikko Hirvonen second with Loeb settling for third.

“I would say the car was perfect. We had absolutely no problem with it, nothing at all. I think we could improve a little bit with things like top speed,” Gronholm said.

He feels the pressure is now on 2005 and 2006 world champion Loeb.

“It is a little bit opposite way to how it was last year and it will be interesting to see how he reacts.

“So far he has never really been in this position. I know he will be very strong but it’s a little bit different when you are behind and fighting."

Rally New Zealand starts with the traditional shakedown test at Mystery Creek on Thursday 30 August ahead of the Ceremonial Start in Hood Street Hamilton on Thursday evening.

The rally proper begins on Friday 31 August in the Otorohanga and Waitomo region, day two is in the Franklin District and northern Waikato and final day in Raglan, with super special stages each day back at the rally headquarters and service park at Mystery Creek.

For further information on Rally New Zealand checkout the website www.rallynz.org.nz

ENDS

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