Martin targets second spot
Ford's Markko Martin is going all out to beat Subaru's Petter Solberg on this weekend's Rally Australia as he bids to take second place behind Sebastien Loeb in the drivers' championship
The Estonian has won the last two rounds in France and Spain to bring his points tally to within just three points of rival Solberg in second place. Martin hopes to win a hat-trick of rallies, but he will find the Norwegian a tough competitor on the gravel stages where Soberg has traditionally fared well.
"I have the chance to finish second in the championship, and that would be my best position to date," Martin said. "That's my aim and to finish second in both the drivers' and manufacturers' championships would represent a solid season. I don't have a good record on this event, but confidence is high in the team and I think we can make a good rally."
Team-mate Francois Duval admits he will be changing his pace notes from last year's event to quicken his pace and believes his starting position puts him in good stead for a solid first day's action.
"I think a top five finish is possible," he said. "This year the rally is in early summer, so the roads should be drier than in 2003. This will mean more loose gravel, and they will be even more slippery. The further down the order you are, the cleaner the stages are. I will start in sixth on the first day, behind the five drivers ahead of me in the championship, so I think that should be quite a good position.
"This year we'll use new pace notes for the rally. Last year I changed my notes, and they weren't good. This year, many of the stages use the same roads, but in a different route. So, rather than modify my notes again, I'm going to make new notes for every stage."
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