The organisers of the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo published the provisional entry list for their event yesterday [Friday], the opening round in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.

Like in 2007, 49 crews are due to start - and at least 18 will compete in World Rally Cars.

Despite having planned to entry three cars on all events next year though, the Subaru World Rally Team will revert to a two-car line-up and as such Xavier Pons will not take part.

The other manufacturer entries are as expected, although interestingly Matthew Wilson's co-driver, Michael Orr is not listed - instead the space is left blank, assumingly still to be confirmed.

Other drivers' at the wheel of WRC cars include former Junior Rally Championship runner, Conrad Rautenbach, who like on the Rally GB, will use a Citroen Xsara WRC. Four Peugeots are entered, with Laurent Carbonaro, Jean-Marie Cuoq and Philippe Roux due to compete in 307 WRC's, while Frederic Romeyer will a 206 WRC.

Of the rest, around 17 will battle it out for Group N honours, while a further twelve will be in contention for the A7 class victory.

Francois Delecour is listed with co-driver, Denis Giraudet, however his car is still to be confirmed.

As the Rallye Monte Carlo will not count towards either the Junior World Rally Championship or the Production Car World Rally Championship, no points' will be up for grabs in either of those categories.

The draft entry list is as follows, the competition numbers have still to be confirmed:

1. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC M
2. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC M
3. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 M
4. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 M
5. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2006 M
6. Chris Atkinson Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2006 M
7. Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 M
8. Francois Duval Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 M
Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC M
Per-Gunnar Andersson Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC M

Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 A8
Matthew Wilson Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 A8
Khalid Al-Qassimi BP Ford Focus RS WRC 06 A8
Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Xsara WRC A8
Laurent Carbonaro Peugeot 307 WRC A8
Jean-Marie Cuoq Peugeot 307 WRC A8
Philippe Roux Peugeot 307 WRC A8
Frederic Romeyer Peugeot 206 WRC A8

Riccardo Errani Skoda Octavia TBC
Francois Delecour TBC TBC

Franck Amaudru Subaru Impreza N4
Patrick Artru Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
Jerome Aymard Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 N4
Miguel Baudouin Mitsubishi Lancer Evo N4
Olivier Burri Subaru Impreza N4
Flavio Castegnaro Subaru Impreza N4
Ludovic Cluzel Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
Franck Doveri Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III N4
Joan Font Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
Richard Frau Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
Milan Liska Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
Alain Machard Subaru Impreza STi N4
Laurent Nicolas Subaru Impreza N4
Giacomo Ogliari Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
Gilbert Sau Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
Frederic Sauvan Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
Jan Sykora Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4

Luca Betti Honda Civic Type R A7
Alessandro Broccoli Renault Clio A7
Frederic Combe Renault Clio RS A7
Daniel Holczer Honda Civic A7
Marc Dessi Renault Clio RS A7
Eddie Mercier Renault Clio A7
Stefano Moretti Renault Clio A7
Andrea Panicco Peugeot 206 RC A7
Silvano Pintarelli Renault Clio A7
Gerri Pranzoni Renault Clio A7
Henri-Marc Venturini Renault Clio A7
Lilian Vialle Renault Clio A7

Key:

M denotes Manufacturer team.