Loeb looks to start title run with win at Monte Carlo

VALENCE, France -- World rally champion Sebastien Loeb heads into the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally on Thursday looking for a record-equaling fourth straight overall title.

"I hope to continue where I left off," the Citroen driver said. "I hope I don't break my arm again, and I hope we can fight for both titles (driver and team). It's a season full of hope."

The 32-year-old Frenchman won eight of the first 12 races last year before breaking his arm in a cycling accident in September and missing the last four races.

Despite the injury, Loeb won the title by 11 points over second-placed Marcus Gronholm of Ford.

At the Monte Carlo Rally, competitors have 203 miles of timed racing over 15 special stages. The race ends Sunday around the principality of Monaco's harbor.

Most of the rally has been moved three hours away to Valence, after road closures around the usual racing tracks made access too difficult for competitors. Patches of ice and snow are expected on tight, twisting roads.

On Thursday, drivers have two short stages, starting with 17.7 miles from Saint-Jean en Royans to Col de Lachau in France.

Loeb is looking to equal the record set by Finland's Tommi Makinen, who won four straight overall titles from 1996-1999.

Loeb, who has won the Monte Carlo Rally three times (2003-05) and finished second last year, said Gronholm would be his main rival this year.

"Marcus will be the man to beat," Loeb said. "Marcus is one of the best in the world."

Gronholm won the overall title in 2000 and 2002.

Another contender is Mikko Hirvonen, who had eight podium finishes in 2006. Fourth overall last year, Manfred Stohl of Austria returns to Citroen after competing for Peugeot.

Norway's Petter Solberg finished sixth last season with 34 points and no victories. In a bid to regain form, he has switched from Pirelli to BF Goodrich tires.

Loeb, used to a Citroen Xsara, is concerned how his new C4 model will shape up.

"At the beginning I felt it lacked agility compared to the Xsara," he said. "We'll need a few races to be at 100 percent."

There are three new rallies this season in Portugal, Ireland and Norway, replacing Cyprus, Turkey and Australia.