Martin quickest in SS11 and SS12.

Ford Rallye Sport's new Focus RS WRC scored its first stage victories today when Markko Martin and Michael Park raced to fastest time on both the 20.15km Mititai Finish and the 10.15km Tokatoka speed tests to strengthen their grip on second place on this fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Martin broke the stranglehold of Peugeot, who had been quickest on all the preceding 10 special stages, after the team fitted a totally new hydraulic system to his Focus to cure the troubles which hampered him on the morning's opening test.

The 27-year-old Estonian was fastest by 0.7sec on the narrow and precise Mititai Finish and then went quickest by 0.5sec through the tricky Tokatoka, run in daylight for the first time. On each occasion he edged out rally leader Marcus Gronholm [Peugeot] and extended his advantage over third-placed Richard Burns [Peugeot] to 16.7 secs.

"The car is unbelievably fun to drive," said a delighted Martin. "Those two stages were much better than this morning. Our road position is obviously helping and now that we're driving in the same kind of conditions as Marcus we can see the full potential of the Focus. We're so fast into corners that I'm surprising myself and sometimes the speed is such that it's hard to get all the pace notes in. It's like being in a Playstation game!"

Team-mates Francois Duval and Stephane Prevot remain in 13th in their similar Focus RS. The Belgians are relishing their new car but finding it hard running first through the stages.

"It's not easy in that position because of all the loose gravel on the surface," said 22-year-old Duval. "It's bad for us sweeping the gravel away and we have no clean line to follow. But the stages are fantastic to drive on and I'm really enjoying this rally now. The car is beautiful to drive. Malcolm Wilson [team director] has stressed how important it is to finish and I need to find a good rhythm between finishing the stage and being fast on the test."

Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, driving a 2002-specification Focus RS, remain 15th, the Finns also happy with their form.

"Finally, everything is OK. We made no mistakes but there's a lot of loose gravel so the roads are slippery and we have to be cautious. There was a little light rain in Tokatoka but not heavy enough to have any effect," said Hirvonen.

Drivers now tackle the roads of Parahai and Ararua for a second time today. Run as a single 59.00km test this morning, it will be split into two 26.18km and 31.75km stages this afternoon.