Gronholm: Ford can win title

Gronholm, 37, has switched to the blue oval team after seven years with Peugeot, having won the championship in 2000 and 2002.

Speaking to Reuters at the Autosport International show on Thursday, the Finn felt he had the best chance since 2002 of recapturing a crown worn for the past two years by Citroen's French driver Sebastien Loeb.

"I am really looking forward to the first rally and I am happy so far," he said. "They (Ford) have played down everything but I am feeling optimistic that we can have a chance and really fight (for the title).

"The car is good. I hope I am right but that is my feeling,"

Ford and Subaru are now the only two full manufacturer teams in the championship, with Loeb driving a Citroen for the privately-run Kronos team until the French carmaker returns officially in 2007 after a year away.

Former champions Peugeot have withdrawn.

"I think there are still nearly the same drivers around as last year and I hope we can put up a good fight with Loeb and Petter (Solberg) and other drivers," said Gronholm.

"I think Sebastien has a good chance but we can't let him win again. I hope not, otherwise we others are rubbish if we can't beat him."

Ford team director Jost Capito said last year that the new Focus car, unveiled at the end of the season, was still too new to challenge for the title.

"It is too optimistic to expect us to win a world title this year," said Capito. "But we fervently believe that we will win rallies and lay a solid platform for a world championship bid in 2007 and 2008."

Gronholm said he still felt a lot more comfortable in the Ford after a difficult final year at Peugeot.

"I was trying like hell with the 307, too much," he said. "And I was never really confident in it. I was over-driving and made mistakes a lot. With the 206 it was a different story.

"Now it is a new challenge and a new chance, already I feel more comfortable even if I haven't done a rally in it. I don't know where we are exactly compared to Loeb and Solberg in speed, but the feeling is good anyway."

The season starts with next week's Monte Carlo rally.