UK, Oct 15: Sebastien Loeb has played down talk of complacency ahead of this weekend`s Rally of Corsica. The Frenchman is firm favourite to win the race, having won all three of the season`s asphalt events, and is only two points adrift of Richard Burns overall.

With three races left this season Loeb, who drives for Citroen, plans to take as few risks as possible.

"Anyone who thinks it`s going to be a mere formality had better think again. The competition is very real," he said. "Citroen team principal Guy Frequelin says that to win the title, it`s preferable to finish all three races and he`s right."

Burns, who finished seven minutes off Loeb`s pace in the Sanremo Rally, knows he will do well to retain his lead after the Corsican leg.
"I don`t think Sanremo was representative of what we can do but if it is representative of what Seb can do, we`re going to struggle," he said.

"With two tarmac rallies coming up, Sebastien is favourite."

The Corsican race is followed by the asphalt rally in Catalunya and the season-ending British rally on 6-9 November. Bureau Report