"There will be a lot of snow I think and Monte is always tricky anyway so it won't be easy, that's for sure. It will be about who can make the most of their tyres and adapt to the conditions fastest, but if someone manages something special with them people will follow quickly."

Asked how pre-season testing has gone, the Norwegian added that he has been reasonably pleased, although he reiterated that punctures will be a big worry, especially on round one.

"Testing has been ok so far. I feel comfortable on the new tyres - tyre testing has gone well and I feel I have learned them very well," he told the team's official website, www.swrt.com. "You need a little different driving style now to get the most from them, but I am happy going into Monte and Sweden.

"Thinking about punctures will be very, very important though. You can't drive like before – one puncture and you're finished. I think people will drive more cautiously and definitely not cut corners as much."

Subaru team boss David Richards meanwhile believes that it is possible one of his drivers could finish on the podium. Although the Banbury-based outfit only managed that feat twice last year, Richards reckons that the tricky four-day event could produce a surprise result and allow Petter or Chris Atkinson to get onto the rostrum.

Indeed the weather could be especially beneficial for the Prodrive-run concern, which will have to persevere with the Impreza WRC2007 for now, until new car makes it debut at a yet to be announced event later on in the season.

"Monte Carlo Rally has often turned out to be a lottery, where the weather has thrown up some opportunistic and historic victories," he noted, "and if we can snatch those chances, who knows? I wouldn't be at all surprised if either of our drivers climbed the podium. It's one of those events where anything can happen."


For more see Part 2 of our preview for the Rallye Monte Carlo.