Championship leader Sebastien Loeb has warned he will not be taking anything for granted at the New Zealand Rally this weekend despite completing a hat-trick of wins last time out.

BP Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen hopes he and his team can get their drivers’ and manufacturers’ championship bids back on track when the World Rally Championship pitches camp in New Zealand this weekend.

Reigning world champion Marcus Gronholm took a predicted early lead after the opening tests of the New Zealand Rally in Auckland.