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MONACO - Marcus Gronholm will be looking to lay the groundwork for his bid to wrest the world title from Frenchman Sebastien Loeb by defending his Monte Carlo Rally crown at the season opening race starting today.
The 38-year-old Finn, who missed out on the world title last
year to Citroen's Loeb by just one point, began his Ford career with a victory here 12 months ago.
The 2000 and 2002 world champion is confident his new tyres will give him a head start on the route which this year starts not in the millionaire's paradise but over 300km away in Valence.
Loeb, 32, dominated last season despite missing the final four races with a broken arm, winning a third straight world title after 12 podium finishes in as many races and eight wins.
Despite concerns about whether his arm is fully recovered and whether after three months out he is comfortable with his new C4 car, Loeb believes he can match Finn Tommi Makinen's four consecutive world titles.
But he knows that Gronholm, who also won eight races last season and gave Ford their first constructors title since 1979, is the man to beat.
"Marcus will obviously be the man to beat, there's no doubt about it," said Loeb, winner of the Monte Carlo Rally three consecutive times between 2003 and 2005, and runner-up last year.
"The Ford is strong and Marcus is one of the top drivers ... We can look forward to some great battles."
Loeb added: "I haven't got as much experience with this car as I have with the Xsara, but generally, the feeling is positive."
Subaru's Petter Solberg, the 2003 world champion and sixth last season, is also expected to challenge and can no longer blame his tyres after, like Loeb and Gronholm, changing from Pirelli to BF Goodrich.
M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson believes that Finn Mikko Hirvonen, winner in Australia, "will continue to mature in 2007 after becoming one of the best drivers in the world in 2006".
Mitsubishi make a comeback for the first three rallies with Finn Toni Gardemeister and Spaniard Xevi Pons driving their two Lancers, but Skoda will not compete this season.
Rallies in Portugal, Ireland and Norway replace those in Australia, Cyprus and Turkey in the 16-race world championship.
- AFP