Gronholm seeks breakthrough

Gronholm lies fifth in the point standings, but has almost half the points of series leader Sebastien Loeb of Citroen. Marcus feels that this would be an ideal time to get Peugeot's campaign back on track.

"It would be great to score the 307 WRCs first win, for the whole team, and also for me," he said. "I really feel we have been unlucky in the past few rallies.

"The stages [in Finland] are fantastic, even though they are technically very demanding and call for extremely tight racing lines. You need to be so concentrated that it's actually not that much fun on the spur of the moment. It's more a rally you savour afterwards, when it's all over, especially when you win."

His team-mate and fellow countryman Harri Rovanpera is also fired up to give his very best on home soil.

"I can't wait for Rally Finland to begin," he said. "When you compete in your home event, there is a certain pressure but also a special atmosphere. The testing we did recently was very encouraging for the remainder of the season. Our car has progressed significantly during the past few weeks."

Peugeot Sport has signed a partnership agreement with Pirelli for the Italian tyre manufacturer to supply the multiple WRC-winning team for three years beginning in January 2005. The deal is part of a larger commercial partnership with Pirelli, and ends Peugeot's long-standing supply of Michelin rubber.