Novikov aims for more WRC action in 2013

Evgeny Novikov, an ever-present in the FIA World Rally Championship in 2012 driving for the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, is set to contest all 13 rounds of next year’s series.

After seven rounds, Novikov, who is co-driven by the experienced Frenchman Denis Giraudet, is fifth in the drivers’ standings, one point ahead of factory Ford pilot Jari-Matti Latvala following his fourth-place finish on last month’s Brother Rally New Zealand.

“We plan to drive a full championship next year,” said the 21-year-old. “That is my aim and it is looking promising so far.”

Novikov will resume his world championship campaign on next month’s Neste Oil Rally Finland and heads into the second half of the season confident of more progress behind the wheel of his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

“I have been pleased with the first half of the year,” said Novikov, who claimed his maiden podium finish on Vodafone Rally de Portugal in April. “Of course I was not so pleased with the technical problems that we had in Greece but I hope the second half of the season will be even better than the first half.”