Manufacturer 1.
Kronos Total Citroen:
[
Sebastien Loeb, car #1 and Xavier Pons, car #2]
Double world rally champion, Sebastien Loeb has promised that he will be going all out to win in Sweden. The Frenchman, who failed to finish last year after an engine failure, won the event in 2004 and while he knows Marcus Gronholm is the favourite, he is looking forward to a 'big fight' with the Finn.
"As there was no snow [last year], I didn’t enjoy it much," he noted. "The Swedish Rally was almost transformed into a gravel event, it's not much fun then. In these conditions, we were loosing quite a lot of studs but we managed to keep contact with the leading duo. We were second when we were forced to retire.
"That said, even though I won in 2004, I still consider myself as a challenger in Sweden. The favourite is Marcus Gronholm. I'm dreaming of a straight battle with him this year, in thrilling conditions how they can be on this rally: this means sheet ice on the ground with high and thick snowbanks on the side to lean on. As the grip is consistent and excellent, you feel free to push hard and almost over drive as you know you can rely on the snowbanks sometimes. A big fight like that yes - and we will try to win it."
Kronos though have never contested the event before, something that team boss, Marc van Dalen admits will make things more difficult.
"Sweden, Mexico and Japan are all new events for us this year. It's part of the challenge that we were ready to take up this year. But as far as Sweden is concerned, we will obviously discover some things, especially because this event is unique in its category," he noted. "We prepared it the best we could and we tried to think about all the tiny details while we benefited from the help of
Citroen Sport who took part in the event four times. On event, we would have to be even more careful and reactive than usual if something happens. In these new conditions to us, I know we can rely on the team's good level of cooperation demonstrated in Monaco."
BP Ford:
[Marcus Gronholm, car #3 and
Mikko Hirvonen, car #4.]
Ford team leader, Marcus Gronholm will start the Swedish Rally this coming weekend as one of the pre-event favourites. The Finn though, despite enjoying a good test in Sweden prior to the Christmas-New Year break, is taking nothing for granted and insists that the M-sport ran squad still have a lot of work to do in the build-up to the event, which starts 'proper' this Friday. Gronholm though would love nothing more than to celebrate his 38th birthday on the winners' podium - and make it two wins from two, after triumphing two weeks ago on the season opening, Rallye Monte Carlo.
