McRae banks on cold weather in Sweden

The French marque scored a sensation one-two-three on the Monte Carlo Rally last weekend, but former world champion McRae says the car's gravel form is unproven. He is banking on cold weather and lots of snow for the Xsara to be able to repeat its frontrunning form.

"A lot will depend on the weather in Sweden," he told this week's Motorsport News. "If it's a full winter rally we might have a good chance, but if it isn't things might not be so easy.

"It is unfair to expect the team to be able to win on every surface at the moment, but it has a lot of experience all over the world and we know we have to work hard to be competitive in certain areas. I hope by the middle of next year we will be in a position to be competitive on gravel," he added.

Monte Carlo winner Sebastien Loeb is expecting more victories this season. He told this week's AUTOSPORT: "Certainly the car can win on asphalt. As for the loose, there are four rallies I've never done this year, but I would hope to win on gravel soon."