Landmark event for Frenchman.
Multiple world champion Sebastien Loeb will reach a milestone in Sweden next weekend, as the event will mark his 100th outing in the FIA World Rally Championship.
Loeb began 2008 perfectly on the Monte, when he notched up a record breaking fifth win, now though the WRC gears up for the only all-out winter fixture in the schedule.
Speaking ahead of the second round in the WRC, the Frenchman noted that he is not especially bothered about this being his 100th start.
Furthermore while there is no doubt he would like to try and repeat what he did in 2004, when he became the first - and thus far only - driver outside Sweden and Finland to win the event, he knows it will be very difficult to repeat that, as he found in 2007 and 2006, when he had to settle for the runners-up spot.
"My 100th start is a nice round figure, but it's not that important to me," he confirmed. "Our objective will be to try to win, which won't be easy.
"For one thing, we will start the weekend running first on the road and that can often be a handicap in Sweden.
"Our rivals will also be out to draw level after the Monte Carlo Rally and I'm expecting a close fight.
"Sure, it would be nice to celebrate our 100th start with a win but scoring points in both championships will also be important and I will base my pace on the way the rally unfolds."
This year's 57th edition of the Karlstad-based event will also feature a significantly revised format and that will make it extra challenging.
Indeed 60 per cent of the stages are new compared with recent years, with the organisers having taken advantage of the concept of remote service zones to return to some of the classic roads not used since 2000.
Loeb though is still looking forward to it and with this being his eighth start in Sweden, he is more than equipped to run strongly.
"Competing on these extremely fast, icy stages is sheer delight. Controlling long, high-speed power-slides, setting up the car for corners and using the snowbanks to stay on line is a great experience. When the studs give good grip, it really is a fantastic rally," he summed-up.
