Loeb seeking a return to his winning ways

As the battle for the 2009 World Rally Championship moves to a brand new fixture in Australia, Citroen Total team leader Sebastien Loeb is eyeing a return to his rally winning ways as he battles to keep his chances of scoring a sixth consecutive world title alive.

After a dominating start to the season, when he won the first five rallies, the Frenchman has lost out to the Ford team drivers on the most recent four, and now trails championship leader Mikko Hirvonen by three points with three rounds to go.

Heading to the unknown challenge of this week's all-new Kingscliff-based rally, Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena are targeting a return to the sort of form that secured them victory on the previous Perth-based event in 2004.

"Our goal is to win, or at least finish ahead of Mikko," said Loeb. "As the situation stands at the moment, the way the championship finishes is in my hands. If I win the last three rallies, I will be the World Champion. My mission will become somewhat more complex, however, if Mikko beats me just once.

"This weekend's event promises to be extremely close because Mikko is particularly strong on fast gravel, especially when the stages are new to everyone. The way recce goes will be vital, not only in terms of the precision of our pacenotes but also regarding the quality of the information we are able to provide the team in order to decide on the best set-up for the start.

"I feel rested after the recent four-week break and I have nothing against this sort of relaxed rhythm, but it is always a little bit harder to get back into the swing after a month without driving competitively," he added.

Team-mates Dani Sordo and Marc Marti are just as motivated to do well and to confirm their recent strong form on gravel, which has netted podiums in Portugal, Argentina and Poland. Even though the rally is brand new for Sordo - as it is for his opponents - the Spaniard is eager for action to begin: "I always enjoy discovering new places. Australia is a dream for many because there are few destinations which are further away from Europe. I can't wait to get back behind the wheel of my car," he said.

"I only contested Rally Australia once when it was based in Perth, and I don't have a particularly fond memory of that because my gearbox broke on the first stage. I really don't know what to expect this time round, although I do know that the stages won't be carpeted with the small round stones which used to make the Perth-based event so difficult..."

Sordo's recent form proves he is in a position to challenge the very best WRC drivers on the loose, but as the team's number two driver he knows his team goals must come first for now.

"As usual, I will try to go as quickly as possible. Citroen has a lead of 14 points in the Manufacturers' World Championship standings and my objective in Australia will be to keep the same sort of gap in order to ease the pressure going into the last two rounds. Obviously, if the situation arises, I will also do all I can to help Seb in his bid to win the Driver's title" he explained.