Only two other events have managed to break into three figures this season, namely Finland and Germany, but GB betters both with 121 set to start the event, which runs from November 30 to December 2.
MotoGP super star,
Valentino Rossi unfortunately though will not be one of them.
The other big news concerned the Rallye Monte Carlo and its route. This year Monte Carlo set a new precedent for modern WRC events by including night stages on the Thursday, however the 76th edition looks set to be just as controversial with four-days of 'proper' stages planned - something that goes against the current regulations, which requires WRC organisers to stick to a three-day format.
Indeed under the itinerary for the 2008 event, which will run from January 24-27, the Monaco Grand Prix circuit super special on the Sunday will be replaced by two 'proper' stages in Turini, each run twice.
News from the Manufacturers' teams:
Citroen Total WRT:
[
Sebastien Loeb, car #1 and
Daniel Sordo, car #2]
Loeb: It is imperative we win.
Sebastien Loeb will have only one target this coming weekend in Ireland and that’s to come out top and take the maximum ten points.
The Frenchman failed to score in Japan last month after his co-driver, Daniel Elena called out the wrong pace-note. It was a bitter blow for Seb, especially as Marcus Gronholm had gone out on day 1 and as such he was well placed to re-take the lead in the drivers’ championship.
As it is Loeb heads to Ireland now still four points behind and with only two events left, still has it all to do.
He will take encouragement though from the Citroen C4 WRC’s form this year on the ‘black stuff’ and his pre-event preparations for this event, which included taking in and winning the Donegal Rally in Ireland back in the summer and the Cork ‘20’ International Rally in September.
“We have no alternative [but to try and take the victory this weekend]. I start every event with the intention of winning and that's especially true this time,” he noted.
![Marcus Gronholm (FIN) / Timo Rautiainen (FIN) - BP Ford Focus WRC. Galway International Rally, February 3-4 2007. [Pic credit: Ford / worldrallypics.com]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/286908.jpg)
