Barcelona, Jan 23: The 2003 world rally championship begins in Monte Carlo on Friday (January 24) as defending champion Marcus Gronholm of Finland guns for his third world rally title. The Monte Carlo rally starts on Friday with three days on the treacherous mountain roads north of Monaco and the 34-year-old Gronholm hopes to improve on his past results in the season-opening event. Last year Gronholm, who would go on to take the championship, could only manage fifth place and he makes no secret of his dislike for one of the more challenging events on the calendar. "The weather is terrible sometimes, it can change really on one stage from whatever to snow and ice to dry tarmac so for me its a really difficult rally. I have always a difficulty to really do well, I don't know why but I'll try my best in 2003 so we will see what I can do," said the gangly Finn. Peugeot have won the championship for the past three years but only after enduring ritual humiliation in Monte Carlo.

In 2000 all three cars failed to start on Friday morning after the overnight stop in Gap and in 2001 all three went out on the first day with crashes and mechanical problems.

Richard Burns, the 2001 champion who failed to win a rally last season in his first year at Peugeot, has also struggled in the season-opener in the past but senses that he may have more of a chance this time round.

Former champions Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz will be making their Citroen debuts with the Scot aiming for his first Monte win and the Spaniard, partnered by new co-driver Marc Marti, his fourth.

The rally begins in earnest on Friday morning after a ceremonial start on Thursday and ends on Sunday after 14 special stages in the French Alps.

Bureau Report