Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Sordo not feeling added pressure

Dani Sordo says he doesn't feel any increased pressure about stepping up to the full manufacturer squad at Kronos Racing Citroen for the next two rounds of the World Rally Championship

Starting with next weekend's even in Germany, the Spaniard will be nominated for Manufacturer points for at least the next two rallies and will drive the 2006-specification Citroen Xsara.

The reigning Junior World Champion has been the revelation of the season so far, outperforming Kronos Racing's regular second driver Xevi Pons in a third Citroen Xsara, on a rally-by-rally deal.

Sordo lies third in the driver's championship after eight rounds and Kronos Racing hope that by putting the Spaniard in the second car, eligible for manufacturers' points, they will be stronger in their fight for the makes' title.

Kronos currently lead Ford by 15 points, mostly thanks to Sebastien Loeb's dominance. Pons has scored just 11 points in 2006-spec machinery, to Sordo's 33 in last year's car.

"To be honest, I don't feel more pressure than before," Sordo said.

"You know, in the first part of the season, I was fully aware of the fact that Kronos only had one chassis for me and that I couldn't damage the car if I wanted to continue and honour my partners.

"Now being nominated is surely more responsibility but not really more pressure. I need to work for the team on the coming rounds and do my best to score the biggest number of points."

Sordo tested the latest specification car in Germany, and believes he will have little trouble in adapting from his older car.

"I drove with it in tests in Germany and honestly I didn't feel any fundamental difference," he added.

"I think Seb has done a great job on it and I felt confident very quickly. For sure the 2006 Xsara has surely evolved since the start of the season and Seb has made it efficient and easy to drive.

"With his set-up for Germany, I had a good feeling but I am also curious to see how it will go for us in the real competition. Hopefully, the difference with the 2005 Xsara won't be too important especially if we encounter changing weather conditions as it's often the case in Germany."

Team boss Marc Van Dalen says Sordo's ability to cope under added pressure is the reason why he has been promoted.

"The aim is to learn how to manage the increase of pressure brought by the necessity to think of the manufacturers' points," van Dalen said. "It's another test for him and I hope he will succeed there as brilliantly as he did for the previous ones."

 

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Prodrive considering 'B' team
Next article WRC to prepare five-year blueprint

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe