Double World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm holds five-time titleholder Sébastien Loeb in high esteem.

The pair conducted their final battles last year, ending the 2007 campaign with only a four-point difference in their season tallies. While Loeb took the crown, Gronholm retired from the WRC as a competitor. Since then, the lanky Finn has been working for Ford at public relations events.

With nearly two decades of rally experience under his belt, Gronholm had the opportunity to compete against the best of the WRC scene, several of which were either former champions or champions-to-be. None however have impressed him quite as much as the famous Frenchman.

"He's the greatest driver ever and it's quite easy to see," Gronholm commented on the official WRC website. "Just look (at) the results and his records. I have been competing with many of the other drivers and he's absolutely the fastest - no question. There has never been a driver who has been so fast or made such good results all the time."

After listing and comparing such names as Makinen, McRae, Burns, Sainz and Kankkunen, the 2000 and 2002 champion has no doubts whatsoever: "For me it's really easy - Loeb is the best."

"His main strengths are that he is so constant and always there - and that's the point" Gronholm stated.

The high performance levels and reliability of Leob's Citroen C4 is an obvious important factor as well, not only for its competitiveness but also for the assurance it brings.

"He has no trouble with the car; it's running like a clock, always. That makes him so confident," Gronholm observed. "Now he has such a good feeling with the car he knows he can win against these guys if everything goes like it should. His confidence is so high that he can say 'okay, I'm going out and I will win.'"

Rumours have been floating for some time already to the effect that Gronholm might enter a single World Rally Championship event next year, if only just for the pleasure of it.

"It's a possibility," he answered, adding: "Just to keep the feeling in the car and have some fun."