Pressure shared in 2013, says Hirvonen

Mikko Hirvonen says being Citroen’s only ever-present driver in the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship doesn’t put him under any extra pressure.

The 32-year-old Finn will be expected to capitalise on his 13-round programme -compared to Sebastien Loeb’s four-event campaign - by pushing to become world champion for the first time having finished runner-up to Loeb on four previous occasions, including in 2012.

Speaking at the launch of the new-look Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team in the Middle East yesterday, Hirvonen said: “It gives maybe a little bit more responsibility [being nominated to score manufacturers’ points on all 13 rounds] but the team is absolutely fantastic, it has a lot of experience.

“In a way I’m still quite happy Sebastien is doing a few rallies and maybe he can still be part of the testing as well. Also [my new team-mate] Dani [Sordo] is familiar with the team so I don’t feel like I have all the pressure on my shoulders and I’m not a lone in the team. I’m sure we all work together like this year, we were really strong as a whole team and I’m sure we can do the same next year.”

Of his aim for the 2013 season, which gets underway on Rallye Monte-Carlo next month, Hirvonen said: “Now that I have my first season with Citroen under my belt, I feel ready for this new challenge. I have been world championship runner-up four times, so the next logical step is to aim for first place.”