Loeb hopes to defend title

Before the season started, Loeb was cautious as to whether his year-old Xsara would be a match for the brand new cars built this season by Ford and Subaru.

However, Loeb has only dropped four points from a possible 40 so far this season, after finishing runner-up in Monte Carlo and Sweden and winning in Mexico and Spain.

Ford's Marcus Gronholm is already nine points behind Loeb, despite winning the opening two rounds.

The first four rounds have featured all types of surface - snow, asphalt and gravel - which have made Loeb realise that despite older machinery, his car still has the pace to place him in contention at the end of this season.

"On all four terrains, we fought for victory," Loeb said. "This means that we are still have the pace and that it's not impossible to hope I can defend the title with Kronos.

"If I chose this way of doing things, it's because I believed it could work. To have the confirmation is good news.

"That said, we also realised during the four first events that it will be everything but easy this year. Of course we were not naive to imagine that we will relive such an exceptional season as last year. Now it's clear the margin isn't huge.

"The rallies promise to be difficult and tense and as often in these situations and small details will make the difference. Each of us would have to be at the top, but it might end up in an exciting season."

Loeb returns to the scene of his most dominant victory last season this weekend - the Rallye de France - where he became the first driver to win every stage in a WRC event. He believes that it will be tougher this year, however.

"It's good we won all the stages last year, as it won't be as easy this year," he added. "I wasn't surprised that Marcus performed really well in Catalunya.

"Those who think he isn't an asphalt driver should have a look at his results on this surface."