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Sebastien Ogier plays down 2013 WRC favourites tag

Sebastien Ogier is refusing to accept that he and Volkswagen are favourites for this year's World Rally Championship despite his strong start to the season

The German car maker has enjoyed a dream start to the 2013 campaign after Ogier finished second in Monte Carlo and then claimed an emphatic win in Sweden.

Ogier's closest rival, Sebastien Loeb - the winner in Monte Carlo and runner-up in Sweden - is only competing in four rounds of the World Rally Championship this year.

Despite Loeb's impending absence, Ogier insists there is still a long way to go in the championship.

"We have only completed two of the 13 rounds of the World Championship. We still don't really know how good we are," Ogier said ahead of this weekend's Rally Mexico.

"We will have to wait and see how we fair on gravel, as that is the surface on which most of the WRC rallies are staged.

"Maybe we will rethink our goals for the season after Portugal or Argentina.

"One thing is certain, however: if we are still in with a chance at the end of the season, we will fight all the way."

Ogier said he is not planning to change his approach despite his strong outings in the first two rallies, which he feels have increased the pressure on VW's rivals.

"I will approach all the rallies with the same fighting spirit," he said.

"We are obviously more than happy with the way the season has started. However, Monte Carlo and Sweden are unique rallies, which cannot be compared with other rounds of the World Championship.

"We still have a long way to go. However, we can now relax a little, as we already have valuable World Championship points.

"As such, the other teams are now under more pressure than we are."

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