Monte preview: Tonight's lottery numbers are...

It's likely that that 2001 World Rally Championship will ultimately be fought out among six drivers: reigning champion Marcus Gronholm; his Peugeot team mate Didier Auriol; Ford's duo of Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz; Mitsubishi's Tommi Makinen, and Subaru team leader Richard Burns.

But for this weekend's season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, any one of a dozen drivers could be spraying the champagne in the principality after three days in the Alps.

Forecasts say conditions in the Alps will be changeable, with snow, ice and damp and dry asphalt all expected when the rally begins on Friday from Casino Square in Monaco. The works teams have tested extensively for the event, but as always, it will be inspired tyre choices, and luck possibly more than judgement, that will give an edge over the 244 stage miles.

Peugeot has taken the rare step of not nominating the reigning world champion for manufacturers' points, putting its faith in tarmac aces Auriol and Gilles Panizzi ahead of Gronholm, but the Finn isn't unduly concerned.

"It's not going to be harder now just because I have the title to defend," he said. "But it will be tough, although it is impossible to put pressure on me in Monte Carlo, because it is an event and conditions that I am still learning. I am not going there expecting to win and I think it would be wrong of people to expect that."

Panizzi won two asphalt events for Peugeot last season, but veteran Auriol switches to his home country team after SEAT pulled the plug on its under-achieving WRC campaign. The 1994 World Champion is being tipped by many as a dark horse to bring his career to a close with a second world title.

"Immediately I drove the Peugeot I had a good feeling," said three-time Monte winner Auriol. "In the dry it is very good and really smooth to drive."

Ford fields a potent three-car attack, with a now fully-fit Colin McRae and Spaniard Carlos Sainz joined by new recruit and former Monte winner Francois Delecour. Delecour was sacked by Peugeot at the end of the 2000 season, but is fired up and ready to prove a point after being thrown a lifeline by the Blue Oval.

"I was very impressed with the Focus during testing," said Delecour, "and now I can't wait for the start of the rally. Although this will be my first rally in the Focus, I really think a top three result is possible."

While Sainz has three Monte victories, the event has not treated McRae kindly over the years.

"The stages are quite fast and bumpy in places," said the Scot, "and because of the speed it makes them quite tricky. We're in the hands of the gods as far as conditions are concerned and there'll be sections on which we have to drive with tyres that are far from ideal. In that sense the rally still remains a little bit of a lottery."

Ford has switched from Michelin to Pirelli for the 2001 season, but hopes that an intensive testing programme has given it the knowledge base to guess right more often than wrong.

Subaru also puts out three works cars, with 2000 title runner-up Richard Burns joined by Markko Martin and the man hotly-tipped to be rallying's next superstar Petter Solberg. For Solberg and Martin, gaining experience will be priority number one, but for Burns, a win is the aim.

"My goal for Monte is to continue where I left off last year and get a good start to the season," said the Englishman, who closed last season with a third straight Rally Great Britain win.

But after a lacklustre 2000 season that saw the end of his four-year reign as world champion, Mitsubishi's Tommi Makinen could be the danger man in the Alps. The Finn won last year's event and says he is re-motivated to get his crown back from fellow countryman Gronholm. Makinen will campaign a revised Group A Lancer Evolution pending the introduction of a full WRC-spec Lancer later in the season.

"I am really looking forward to the start of the season," he said. "For me, the only target is to get back to the top and to have number one back on the car.

"The new car seems to be really good. The balance is better with the new rear suspension and I hope we can win this rally for the third time, but you never know."

Makinen is again joined by Freddy Loix in the two-car Mitsubishi attack, the Belgian keeping his slot courtesy of Marlboro backing, but desperately needs a good result to rebuild a sagging reputation.

Hyundai and Skoda also field works squads, but are unlikely to challenge for victory, although both field asphalt experts who could surprise given the right conditions. Hyundai has Italian asphalt ace Pierro Liatti to partner team leader Alister McRae, but the Scot is on his debut Monte and expects little in the way of points.

"I'm looking for experience more than anything. Piero doesn't speak a lot of English, but hopefully he'll be able to tell me what tyres he's using..." quipped McRae.

Skoda has Belgian asphalt hotshoe and 'nice bloke' Bruno Thiry alongside Armin Schwarz. The Octavia WRC surprised with its pace on occasion last year, but with the calibre of the opposition on the event, and the number of teams running three drivers, a top six finish would be a sort of victory.

After problems with stage crowding and a row between the organisers, the Automobile Club de Monaco, and the sport's governing body, the FIA, the entry has been set at 60 cars. But after years when the fame of the rally meant the ACM believed it was almost above the law, it will still be under the microscope regarding spectator control and general organisation.