'It would be fantastic to be challenging for the win,' says Gronholm

Former World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm has set himself the target of a podium finish in this week's Rally Sweden, when he returns to drive a Ford Focus in the World Championship for the first time since 2007.

One of the Stobart M-Sport Ford team's two points nominated drivers in Sweden, the Finn, 41, will drive a Focus RS WRC accompanied by his co-driver since 1995, Timo Rautiainen.

Gronholm, crowned drivers' champion in 2000 and 2002, retired from full time competition at the end of 2007, but returned to make a guest appearance in last year's Rally Portugal in a Subaru Impreza WRC. This week, the long time fan (and five time winner) of Rally Sweden has been tempted out of retirement once again to drive the car he took his last two Swedish victories with in 2006 and 2007.

“I’m really happy to be driving the Ford Focus again; it still feels really good to drive," said Gronholm. "All the stages on this rally will be quite difficult but I hear that there has been a lot of snow so there should be some big snow banks which will make the conditions good. Realistically my aim is for a podium, yes it would be fantastic to be challenging for the win but that is going to be difficult after having such a long break from the WRC; I will just need to wait and see how my speed is.”

Stobart regular Henning Solberg is the team's second points nominated driver, and will make his competitive debut alongside new co-driver Ilka Minor. “I’m excited about this rally in Sweden," said Solberg. "Snow is my favourite surface and we set some good times last year in Norway. But with Rally Norway not in the WRC this year, Sweden will feel like my home event so I want to put on a good show for the Norwegian fans that will come to watch and for my sponsors Expert. It’s great to be back in the Ford Focus and hopefully with my new co-driver Ilka, we will be able to get a good start to the season.”

In the team's third Ford Focus is Matthew Wilson. The Briton is aiming for podium finishes this year, which is his fifth with the Stobart team. “The recce will be very important as we weren’t in Sweden last year and some stages are from 2007; but the conditions should be great," he said. "We are starting the championship on one of the quickest rallies of the year so the challenge will be to get up to speed straight away on the first day. We’ve experienced some arctic conditions in the UK over the last few months but to drive flat out on snow stages with studs is an amazing experience and totally different to any other event in the WRC calendar.”

Completing a four car team for Stobart in Sweden is Finn Mattias Therman. The privateer driver was last in action on Rally Finland 2009, where he finished 15th. "My last event in the Ford Focus RS WRC was a fantastic experience and if Sweden is half the amount of fun I had in Finland then I will be happy," he said. "I’m not expecting to be fast; I really want to complete the rally. If I’m in the top-15 at the finish I will be pleased.”