ERC title winner Hänninen ready for big chance

Juho Hänninen will be aiming to utilise all the skills he acquired in winning the FIA European Rally Championship in 2012 when he contests Rallye Monte-Carlo this week.

Hänninen has a two-event deal with the Qatar World Rally Team to pilot a Ford Fiesta RS WRC for the M-Sport-run squad. He said his achievement in winning last year’s ERC crown would serve as a huge boost ahead of his world championship bid.

“For every title you have to achieve a certain level and it is now the third title in a row for me,” said the ace Finn. “It’s also thanks to the IRC because apart from Rally Finland in the WRC, Rallye Monte-Carlo is the event I have done most, three times in the IRC, and that will be my first event in the World Rally Car.”

One of championship promoter Eurosport Events’ key objectives in devising the 2013 ERC calendar was to ensure a spread of events that offered a similar challenge to the world championship roster in order to equip future graduates with skills they need to progress.

As for Hänninen, he says he’s more than ready for the challenge ahead. “We have had two very different tests in the lead-up to the rally – one very slippery in the wet before Christmas and one on some very quick, dry stages this week – which has been very good preparation.

“The difficulty with Rallye Monte-Carlo is that, as a driver, you need to understand that you cannot be the quickest all of the time. This event is all about compromise – sometimes you need to drive slower than you might naturally want to and tyre selection can make all the difference.

“Thanks to this week’s test especially I am feeling really confident with the car. There is still a lot to learn, but we have a lot of kilometres behind the wheel now. Our confidence is growing all the time and we are ready to rally.

“My main goal is to set some good stage times and try to challenge some of the more experienced WRC drivers. Many of the stages I know from the past, and we want to be in Monaco on Friday and Saturday.”