Dani Sordo returns to World Championship action this weekend - and is targeting a podium place.
The Spaniard has not competed since the race in Portugal at the end of March and is looking forward to tackling the conditions in New Zealand.
Sordo lies 11th in the points standings, nearly 100 behind series leader Sebastien Loeb in the Citroen DS3 WRC.
But, despite being out of contention for the championship, Sordo is keen to make his mark this weekend for the Mini WRC Team.
He said: "Rally New Zealand is a special rally as it's so fast. It's a lot like Finland but the roads have more loose gravel on top.
"The gravel can be very slippery but at the same time it is good to drive in the Mini - the car is suited to fast road conditions very well."
Sordo scored well at the opening round in Monte Carlo and also picked up points in Portugal and has his sights set on another good result in New Zealand.
He has also restated the Mini team's aim of challenging the status of Citroen and Ford as the top teams in world rallying.
He told the World Rally Championship's official website: "We will try to finish on the podium. Our target is also to fight against Ford and Citroen as much as we can and to continue to apply some pressure. That is what we are here for, to add pressure and to finish with as good a result as possible."
Despite the disjointed nature of his season, Sordo is targeting strong finishes in the three races he will compete in following the New Zealand event.
He added: "I will be competing in Germany, Spain and Great Britain. We have some marketing work with Red Bull, but our main focus will be on podium results in the remaining rallies.
"It will be nice to finish the season with Spain in November. Maybe it will rain at that time of the year so it could produce an interesting end to the season.
"I have tried for many years to win my home rally and I will certainly be trying again this year. Maybe this year it will be my turn."
Loeb leads the drivers' standings with 119 points going into the New Zealand event from the Citroen of Mikko Hirvonen on 89 and Petter Solberg (Ford) on 73.
