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Last Updated: Thursday, 14 July, 2005, 07:54 GMT 08:54 UK
Loeb aims to maintain winning run
Sebastien Loeb
Sebastien Loeb will be aiming for a record sixth-straight win when the Rally of Argentina starts on Friday.

The defending world champion has won every race since the Rally of New Zealand in April and will be looking to extend his 23-point championship lead.

"My immediate objective is to try to win again, starting in Argentina, and to try to win both championships," said the Citroen driver.

"If that allows us to continue our current run, then so much the better."

Victory for Loeb would also increase Citroen's lead in the manufacturers' standings. They are currently on 84 points with Peugeot on 79 and Ford on 57.

Loeb has a good record in Argentina and was second there last year but the event sees a return to cooler temperatures following the heat of Cyprus, Turkey and Greece.

We will now need to be thinking in terms of outright victory if we are to stay in the title chase
Marcus Gronholm

The rally also takes place at high altitude, with mainly gravel stages in the mountains above Cordoba.

And 2003 world champion Petter Solberg, who is second in the championship standings, has warned that the cold and wet conditions could suit his Subaru.

"Argentina is a completely different rally compared to the others we've done recently," he said.

"Our performance there last year was good and we were leading the event for a while so I'm feeling good about the potential.

"As a rally, I like it a lot and I think maybe it's one of the events where I can fight to the top."

Meanwhile Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm, who is 28 points off the lead with eight races remaining, knows that he needs to make up ground.

"Although my points deficit in the drivers' standings looks like it could be difficult to make up, we still have every chance in the manufacturers' championship," he said.

"But we will now need to be thinking in terms of outright victory if we are to stay in the title chase."

Belgian Francois Duval will make his return to action for Citroen after being dropped for two events following a poor start to the season.

"I saw it as a punishment and doubtless a justified punishment after the mistakes I made," he said.




WORLD RALLY 2005


TEAMS AND DRIVERS PROFILED
 

THIS YEAR'S RALLIES
 

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SEE ALSO
Loeb closes on Acropolis victory
25 Jun 05 |  Rallying
Loeb holds on to Acropolis lead
24 Jun 05 |  Rallying
Loeb takes early Acropolis lead
23 Jun 05 |  Rallying
Citroen give Duval second chance
14 Jun 05 |  Rallying
Loeb qualifies for Le Mans race
06 Jun 05 |  Motorsport
Dominant Loeb extends winning run
05 Jun 05 |  Rallying


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