Sordo welcomes Sainz comparison

Sordo, making his WRC debut this season after clinching the junior title last year, impressed in his home event last week after finishing in second place in a Citroen Xsara, only behind double world champion Sebastien Loeb.

Sordo had finished eighth in his debut rally in Monte Carlo and fourth in Mexico earlier this month. The 22-year old lies in third place in the drivers' standings.

With Sainz having retired from the WRC for good last year, Spain was left without a top driver for the first time since Sainz made his debut in the championship in 1989.

After Sordo became only the third Spanish driver in history to reach the podium, expectations have increased and he is already seen as the former champion's successor.

"Carlos is Carlos and I am I," Sordo told reporters. "I'm not scared of being compared with him, I'm in the same championship and I've achieved good results."

Sainz, the winningest driver in the history of the championship with 26 victories, has been a supporter of Sordo and has helped him acclimatise to the demands of the senior series.

Although his results have so far been impressive, Sordo admits he doesn't want to get carried away.

"I prefer to do things little by little, so there are no shocks," he said. "Although maybe I do think I can become champion, despite not saying it."

Sordo is still unsure about how many rallies he will be able to compete in this year, with his budget still not complete, but admits competing in Catalunya was a big satisfaction.

"I completed Catalunya with the Xsara, which is a dream," he said.

The Spaniard is now looking forward to the Corsica rally, where he hopes he will be able to keep his momentum going.

"I'm currently third and I hope to continue there after Corsica," he said. "It's a rally that I really like, even more than Catalunya, it's more technical. I think I'm going to do well there."