Sebastien Loeb fears that he will be pushed harder than ever by the Ford team in this season's World Rally Championship - despite the blue oval being without Marcus Gronholm.

2000 and 20002 champion Gronholm has been Loeb's only realistic title challenger for the past two years.

But he retired at the end of the 2007 season, leaving Ford to run Mikko Hirvonen and youngster Jari-Matti Latvala instead.

But, despite the pair having only three WRC victories between them to Loeb's 36, the Citroen driver is not planning to back off.

"It is important not to be too confident just because Marcus is not here," Loeb told Motorsport News.

"Mikko is improving every year and I think maybe he is now ready to beat me. I certainly know he will be quick and dangerous.

"Whatever happens, I don't think it will be too easy this year. I will try just as hard as I have always done before."

The 33-year-old Frenchman has won the world title for the last four years - matching the number of championships taken by Juha Kankkunen and Tommi Makinen.

He will become the first man in WRC history to win five if he triumphs again this year and begins his title defence in Monte Carlo this weekend, where he is going for a fourth event victory.

Gronholm believes his old rival will be the man to beat in the hills around the Valence-based event, and said that he was right to fear the challenges posed by Hirvonen and Latvala.

"I guess he will win the title, but maybe he can be a bit too confident that he will win. Without me there will maybe be a bit less pressure, but in some rallies it will not be easier because Mikko is quick and Jari-Matti is there too," Gronholm said.

"For Monte though, I am pretty much sure he will win."

Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport