Jari Ketomaa is on the verge of landing his first win of the Super 2000 World Rally Championship season after an impressive run through Saturday's eight stages in his Ford Fiesta.

Ketomaa began day two 22,5 seconds clear of title leader Xavier Pons but has extended his advantage to more than one minute over the Spaniard.

With four stages remaining, Ketomaa is well-placed to claim victory, even though he wasn't entirely happy after the morning loop.

- It was not perfect because we were struggling in the slow sections with understeer, told Ketomaa.

- I was at the limit and knew there was not much more time left in me but it has been a good day and I have got into a good rhythm.

If Ketomaa is still in front at the finish in Auckland on Sunday afternoon then he will owe a debt of gratitude to his Shanghai FCACA World Rally Team mechanics after they replaced a faulty crank sensor in his Fiesta on Friday evening, which involved moving part of the engine to carry out the change.

However, insufficient time meant they were unable to replace a problematic clutch.

- It was not slipping but it was not releasing properly either but we have been able to live with it, said Ketomaa.

- Jarno Saari-