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Rally New Zealand 2004 was the first WRC rally to use new Mille Pistes recce concept. Organisers had option to run with traditional format but decided to give Mille Pistes a go. After we have done it the concept can be objectively evaluated was the logic.
Drivers had almost universally condemned the Mille Pistes concept before the event. Despite that there were no major problems during the rally, the opinion remained negative afterwards too. Phil Mills summed it all up in post-event press conference: "All tried it, all hated it – it should go back in the box where it came from. To get up at 0430 on a Saturday morning and start the first stage at 1130, it goes without saying we want to do km not sit in around in controls."
Pointing out that old system had worked last 55 years, Phil said aloud what crews universally felt about the issue. Milles Pistes explains the rather strange looking itinerary and it is doubtful that it will ever be used again on WRC level.
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Rally New Zealand 2004 counts for:
2004 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers/Co-drivers
2004 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
2004 FIA Production Car World Championship (for drivers)
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| 379th WRC rally |
| Round of season: | 4 of 16 |
| Official name: | Propecia Rally New Zealand |
| Edition: | 34th |
| Date: | from Thursday 15-Apr-2004 to Sunday 18-Apr-2004 |
| Clerk of the Course: | Morrie Chandler |
| Surface: | Gravel |
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| Entries: | 58 | |
| Starters: | 58 | |
| Finishers: | 35 | (60.3% of starters) |
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| Stages: | 23 | |
| Shortest: | 2.10 | km | (SS1 Manukau Super 1) |
| Longest: | 48.21 | km | (SS7 Possum (Cassidy-Bull)) |
| Slowest: | 82.52 | km/h | (SS20 Whaanga Coast 1) |
| Fastest: | 119.09 | km/h | (SS14 Parahi 2) |
| Planned stage distance: | 395.50 | km | (25.4% of total distance) |
| Actual stage distance: | 395.50 | km | (25.4% of total distance) |
| Road section distance: | 1,162.39 | km |
| Total distance: | 1,557.89 | km |
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| DRIVERS - PODIUM FINISHERS |
| | Win was 6th win and 15th podium for Petter Solberg. |
| Second place was 26th podium for Marcus Gronholm. |
| Third place was 8th podium for Markko Martin. |
| MAKES - PODIUM FINISHERS |
| | Win was 40th win and 102nd podium for Subaru. |
| | Second place was 109th podium for Peugeot. |
| | Third place was 174th podium for Ford. |
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Petter was victorious in the end but this Whaanga Coast stage almost cost him the win
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Initially Rovanpera did well, even led the rally, but later slipped down. Peugeot nevertheless confirmed him for remaining gravel rallies.
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Related links
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Rally Mexico 2004
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Cyprus Rally 2004
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