Gronholm plans maximum attack for title

Although he only has to finish fifth to become world champion on Sunday evening, the 32-year-old Finn is considering the tactic of starting out with the intention of winning the event regardless.

"I only need to score two points but I still need to score them," he said. "I think it will be easier to push hard and try to do a good rally, maybe to win, than to just try to get around and get a couple of points. That could be my tactic."

Despite his fighting talk, Peugeot's flying Finn is well aware that Subaru's Richard Burns starts the Cardiff-based event on Thursday as the favourite to win the event, although not the title.

"I am not really confident," Gronholm added. "Rally Great Britain is a difficult rally and Richard has won two years in a row. It is never easy and there is a lot of mud and fog and rain, so we will have to wait and see."

Gronholm found out just how difficult the rally was last year when he crashed out of the event in spectacular style. Burns, however, must win the season finale with Gronholm lower than fifth.

The event starts on Thursday evening with a Superspecial in Cardiff before the rally proper begins on Friday.