Loeb Vows to Attack in France

Loeb clinched the 2004 World Rally Championship by finishing second the rally last season but has never won the event. He heads to the rally this season as the newly crowned double World Champion, after winning this year's title in Japan earlier this month.

The 31 year-old has described how desperate he is to win the event on home soil, and even though Citroen can still be mathematically beaten in the manufacturers Championship, will go all-out to secure victory on the event.

"I can't conceal that I really want to win the Tour of Corsica," Loeb said. "I say that I want to win it, not that I will win it. I want to win it because it's France's round of the World Championship.

"All my friends will be there and we will have the support of thousand of fans. I also want to win it because victory has escaped me at least once there so far."

Loeb also believes that because Citroen has been so strong on asphalt events this season, the team could repeat the domination they experienced on the Rallye Deutschland in August. On the event Loeb and Citroen teammate Francois Duval finished 1-2, with the Frenchman finnishing more than two minutes ahead of the best non-Citroen driver.

"Judging by the way the season has gone until now, I think we stand a chance,2 loeb added. "The Xsara is very strong on asphalt. It will be up to me to make full use of that.

"If the conditions stay dry, we might perhaps be able to repeat the scenario we saw in Germany. If it rains, especially if the weather is showery and unpredictable, anything can happen, as we saw in 2003. But we will give it our very best whatever happens."