Hänninen not feeling the pressure

Juho Hänninen insists he is feeling no pressure as he completes his final preparations for Rallye Sanremo, round 10 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Hänninen, from Finland, leads the IRC drivers’ standings by nine points ahead of Škoda Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecký. He can secure the title by winning in Sanremo and hoping Kopecký finishes outside of the top four.

Speaking in service in Sanremo prior to setting off for the first 12.92-kilometre stage, the 29-year-old said: “I’m a little bit nervous but not under pressure. For me it’s quite difficult to make the points for the championship because the field is so strong so the pressure is more on the other guys. The weather makes it more interesting but I will try and enjoy it the best I can.”

Asked if he was referring to Kopecký, Hänninen joked: “There’s no way he would admit he has a pressure. He’s very relaxed but at least he has more pressure than I do.”

Hänninen lunched separately from Kopecký in the Škoda team area but said the two remain good friends, despite being looked in a title battle.

“We’re getting on very, very well. When we walked over to service it started to rain so we started laughing. What else can you do?”