Gronholm: conditions are perfect

In stark contrast to last year, there has been heavy snowfall in host towns Karlstadt and Hagfors ahead of this year's running of the WRC's only snow event.

Last year's event was close to being cancelled due to a lack of snow, and gravely roads ripped out many studs on the cars' winter tyres.

Gronholm now just wants the ambient temperature to drop below freezing, so that some of the stages are icier.

"We need just some minus degrees," Gronholm said. "It's perfect now, I think it will be good again. In the recce it was good as well, nothing to complain about."

The Finn says he has the same feeling before this weekend as he did before last month's Monte Carlo Rally, which he won comfortably.

"Yes, I have the same feeling that we can win here," he added. "I'm not one hundred percent sure, though. I think Petter [Solberg] and Sebastien [Loeb], they have won the rally, they know it. But also there are many other fast drivers around.

"Running first on the road can be a small problem. Tomorrow's first and second stage... I don't know; I hope not, but maybe a couple of seconds. The plan is to attack, do what we can and then see where we are."