30/09/2007
Time has come for Grönholm and Loeb's tiebreak; The best drivers of the WRC want to make history

Not many editions of the World Rally Championship have arrived at this time of the season with such an equal fight and at such a high level in the top of the standings. After 11 rounds held so far, and with five rounds left to go, Finnish driver Marcus Grönholm (Ford Focus RS WRC 2007) and Frenchman Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4 WRC), promise to have another confrontation filled with intensiveness at the 43rd edition of the RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España, in their fight for the glory. The first of them is currently leading the standings with 90 points courtesy of 5 victories and no DNF. Loeb however, is currently second and has also 5 victories in his record, but he is 10 points behind Grönholm after two non-scoring rounds.

Race by race and stage by stage, the fight for the victory is handled by both of them with a high-voltage sporting intensiveness and an extraordinary level which can only be achieved by two World Champions. Loeb will try to achieve his third victory in Salou (he would be the first driver to make it since the RallyRACC became a scoring round of the WRC) to close the gap to Grönholm who will retire from rally racing at the end of the year. Catalunya will be a fight for the victory, but also for prestige.

Marcus Grönholm: "If things work out well, we can win"

The current leader of the World Championship arrives in top shape at the RallyRACC. His performance both in Finland, where he took an overwhelming victory, and in New Zealand, where he did it in extremis after a titanic battle with his rival, the three-times World Champion Loeb, has consolidated him as a rising value that might become the first driver to win the title over Sébastien Loeb since his successful arrival in the WRC.

The words of this tall and slim 39-year old driver from Finland, define his thoughts in the face of the coming challenge, with two asphalt rallies ahead: "The RallyRACC will be a very important race, especially because it is followed by the Tour de Corse, and will make both rounds crucial for the world championship, given the large number of points at stake. I think that the RallyRACC can fit me well, I did a good job there last year and I hope to do better this year, because our Focus is working really well".

The asphalt in Tarragona does not seam to have any secrets for great Marcus: "The grip in Catalonia is good if it doesn't rain and it makes me feel comfortable. There are several types of asphalt and you have to know where they start and where they finish, but it usually does not make big trouble. You can cut a lot on the ditches but that makes the track dirty and if it is raining.. it's really hard to be fast! Anyway, I am convinced that Catalunya is a rally we can win if things work out well. I was faster than Sébastien last year (Grönholm took 10 scratches against 5 of Loeb) but then we had problems; why shouldn't I do it well this year again?".

For Grönholm, "fighting against Sébastien Loeb on asphalt is a very difficult task, but I hope to be really close and given the case, who know what can happen?". Grönholm arrives decided, with an advantage of 10 points over Loeb and ready to apply his method to continue on the successful path in Catalonia.

Sébastien Loeb: "If you want the title, you have to win"

The three-times World Rally Champion, Sébastien Loeb, is facing a particular challenge in this RallyRACC: to confirm his title in the Spanish round in order to get back the leadership in the drivers' championship, which is now held by Finnish driver Marcus Grönholm, who has now an advantage of 10 points with five rounds before the end of the championship and thus be able to keep his options to clinch the title.

33-year-old Sébastien Loeb, knows that "it is necessary to win in Catalonia, essential if we want to keep our options for the title of the drivers' world championship. At the same time, if my team-mate Dani Sordo could manage to finish ahead of Marcus Grönholm in the standings, it would be perfect. We know it won't be easy, but these are our aims for the race. Daniel Elena - my co-driver-and I have won in 2005 and 2006. We will try to clinch another victory in 2007".

The star of the Citroën Total team, a RallyRACC expert since winning the two last editions, states that "it is a race I like. The specials are fast in general terms. It has a varied and interesting profile, with a good and sometimes excellent grip. Moreover, there are always large crowds supporting us at the roadside and in the service park. It is a well organised round and the sun is shining most of the time...the Catalunya is being staged in a good time of the season".

For the Frenchman, considered by many as the Michael Schumacher of rallying, "Marcus Grönholm and I have been featuring some nice fights for the victory in recent seasons. We are often very even and that is, I think, really interesting for our sport. It is very difficult to know who will win the day after what happened in New Zealand. The round in Wales, the last of the calendar, may become crucial for the world title, although we hope to be the winners!". With everything ready for the next edition of the RallyRACC, Sébastien Loeb's wish is no other than "winning and to have as many drivers as possible between Marcus Grönholm and me!".

The best drivers of the WRC want to make history at the RallyRACC

With the world title at stake, none of the two titans, Grönholm and Loeb, will spare any effort at the Rally de España 2007 to leave the country with their options improved, but the Frenchman does also want to make history at the RallyRACC, since no driver has been able to win the Spanish round more than twice, and he can do it this time.

Sébastien Loeb (with consecutive wins in 2005 and 2006), just like Carlos Sainz (winner in 1992 and 1995), Colin McRae (1996 and 2000), Didier Auriol (1998 and 2001) and Gilles Panizzi (2002 and 2003), has won the Spanish round twice and he is the only driver who is still taking part in the world championship. On the other hand, Marcus Grönholm will also want to use the chance to add a victory to his chain of success in a rally he does well at after clinching two podium finishes (2nd in 2004 and 3rd in 2006)... but no victory.

Both François Duval (2nd in 2005) as well as Dani Sordo (2nd en 2006) have still to step one step up to write their names in the golden book of the race, as well as Mikko Hirvonen (3rd in 2005), Xevi Pons (4th in 2005) and Jan Kopecky (5th in 2006). A special case is that of world champion like Petter Solberg, who has only be able to take three fifth places (2002, 2003 and 2004) at the RallyRACC, reason why the Spanish podium has become a matter pending in the sports career of the Norwegian driver.