Hirvonen without pressure against Loeb

Mikko Hirvonen is going through a pivotal period in his career. The new Citroën WRT driver arrives at Sébastien Loeb's team and seems eager to compete with his teammate on equal terms.

Published on 16/01/2012 à 11:18

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After narrowly missing the title against Sébastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen arrives at Citroën WRT and finds himself facing Sébastien Loeb to compete in the 2012 season of WRC. The Flying Finn will have to prove his worth by standing out against the eight-time world champion. With the new starting order carried out with qualifying stages, the former Ford driver will be on exactly the same footing as the Alsatian, which is not to displease him.

“I take this opportunity to work with Sébastien as a great chance for my career”, explains Mikko Hirvonen on the Citroën WRT website. “It?s not the number one or two question. Everyone starts the season with zero points on the clock and the 2012 regulations will make fighting healthier, including between teammates. In a way, it's a bit normal that the team expects more from Sébastien, who has been there for ten years and who has won the last eight world championship titles! This takes a little pressure off me, I will be able to take the time to get used to the car, the team and the way it works. In any case, I always try to approach situations from a positive angle, because it is the best way to move forward. »

Discover in your AUTOhebdo magazine, on newsstands from Wednesday, our 2012-page WRC 38 Guide accompanied by an exclusive interview with Sébastien Loeb.