Loeb Urged to be Cautious

Although Loeb has a commanding 27-point lead in the drivers' standings, Citroen are locked in a battle with fellow French manufacturer Peugeot in the manufacturers' championship, with only a six points gap.

Loeb, who has taken a record seven wins from nine starts this season, has been asked not to take any risks which could jeopardise Citroen's manufacturers' championship chances.

"We have talked about our strategy," Frequelin admitted.

"He knows we aren't clear in the manufacturers' championship and that I am not the type of person to risk seeing the advantage we have progressively pulled out being nibbled away at by going all out for victory, even on such a prestigious event as Rally Finland.

"He understood that message perfectly last year in Corsica where he wanted to win every bit as much. That said, if his natural pace allows him to fight for victory, then we will be behind him all the way."

Loeb said he was still keen to win the event, but would not drive flat out in order to do so.

"That's not my style," Loeb said. "In Finland, we will see early on whether we have a real chance of winning. It's a legendary event that very few non-Finns have won and I'm on a good run at the moment.

"I'm not the sort of driver who goes crazy. It's not in my nature to take what I have noted as a fifth-gear corner in sixth in the belief that it'll be OK.

"In the last stage in Mexico, as well as in Argentina after my spin, I was close to the limit but I still kept it tidy. Scrambling round a corner doesn't suit me and it doesn't pay.

"So I will drive in my usual way, pushing as hard as I feel I can to begin with, then seeing where we stand and after that adapting ours tactics as necessary."