World champion Sebastien Loeb, who has won all four races this season, aims to tighten his stranglehold on the 2009 title chase by winning a fifth straight Rally of Argentina this weekend.

The unstoppable Frenchman has enjoyed his best ever start to a campaign as he eyes an unprecedented sixth global crown having already won in Ireland, Norway, Cyprus and Portugal to leave his rivals struggling to catch his dominant Citroen.

The signs all point to another win for Loeb who will better compatriot Alain Prost's French record of 51 wins in autosport after the retired Formula One world champion notched up his tally between 1980 and 1993.

"It's the best start we've ever had to any season," said Loeb. "In South America, we don't really have any other choice than to go for victory.

"Rally Argentina holds so many special memories for us, and that's not just because we have won the past four events.

"I really enjoy the stages and the spectators make the atmosphere unique."

Loeb is unbeaten in Argentina since 2005 and leads the driver standings with a maximum 40 points, 10 clear of Finland's Mikko Hirvonen in a Ford while Spaniard Dani Sordo, in the second Citroen, is a further seven points adrift.

The 12-race campaign still has a long way to go before the season ending Wales Rally on 25 October and Hirvonen is keen to make amends for his bad luck last season when he led the race here before a broken suspension ruled him out of contention.

"The roads are fast and extremely narrow in some places, with jumps and river crossings. There is a little bit of everything," he said.

"The roads are quite soft so although they cut up for the second pass, they aren't abrasive and there shouldn't be any problems with using soft compound tyres.

"It's autumn so the weather could be warm and dry or cold and wet. We have to expect anything."

One driver happy just to be on the start line is Hirvonen's teammate and compatriot Jari-Matti Latvala who suffered a horrific crash in Portugal when he and co-driver Miikka Anttila rolled their Ford 17 times and were badly shaken but escaped serious injury.

"I would be happy with fourth and if anything else comes along, then that would be a bonus," he said.

"It's important for me and the team that I drive steadily, take a solid result and rebuild my confidence."