After winning the two first rounds of the 2009 World Rally Championship, Sebastien Loeb will now attempt to sign a third consecutive victory at the Cyprus Rally next month.

Much to the local rally fans' delight, the results could be a landmark: if the five-time champion reaches the top step of the podium on the Mediterranean island, it will count as his 50th WRC career win... and the odds seem to go in the Frenchman's favour as Loeb has won the last three Cypriot events.

The Citroen Sport driver will undoubtedly have to face tough competition however, as Ford teammates Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala have no intentions of gifting him the win. Neither Finn has entered his name on the victory list in Cyprus, and their determination is only greater after the season's opening two rounds – especially in Hirvonen's case, following the fierce and close battle he delivered in Norway.

Rally Cyprus will be the only mixed-surface event this year, with the first day taking place on asphalt while the two following days present their traditional and demanding gravel trails.

The rally HQ will be based at the Germasogeia coastal resort near Limassol. Rally Cyprus will take place March 13-15 and will also count as a round of the P-WRC and J-WRC championships.