Nothing for Granted; Don't tell WRC champ Sebastien Loeb that 2008 will be easy.(Competition)

Byline: ANTHONY PEACOCK

Pessimists might predict that the 2008 World Rally Championship will be a boring walkover for four-time champion Sebastien Loeb. With Loeb's key rival-Marcus Gronholm-enjoying retirement in Finland, Citroen driver Loeb should waltz to his fifth-straight title, shattering the record established eight years ago by Tommi Makinen.

Loeb disagrees. "Sure, Marcus isn't there, but there are others,'' he said. "I will try to win, but it's enough to make one or two mistakes, and then you really struggle.''

Loeb's recent dominance hides the fact that Gronholm led the WRC points for six months in 2007. If Mikko Hirvonen-promoted to Ford's coveted No. 1 seat for 2008-finds enough consistency, he can derail the Loeb roller coaster.

Hirvonen scored more finishes in the points than Loeb last year and finished the season only 17 points behind him, in third place. Ford boss Malcolm Wilson believes that Hirvonen's new No. 1 status might make a significant difference.

"With all the best drivers, if you give them an extra challenge, they rise to it,'' Wilson said. "Mikko is out of Marcus' shadow now. I believe he'll take the next step and show us what he's really capable of.''

Jari-Matti Latvala is Ford's second driver. The Finn is blindingly fast but could struggle to find enough consistency to produce a championship campaign. That's why Gronholm could step in and return for a few rallies to help boost Ford's score in the manufacturers' championship (which the Blue Oval won for the last two seasons).