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VW: World rallying's reluctant favourite

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It may be new to the WRC and talking down its 2013 chances, but Volkswagen is going to take some beating, reckons David Evans

There will be those who fiercely disagree with this prediction - namely those sitting in Cockermouth (Ford) and Versailles (Citroen) - but the potential of the cars and boys coming from Hannover this year is exceptional. And it's that potential that has to make VW favourite for victory in its debut season.

Volkswagen won't much like this either. Shorn of stereotypical self-confidence on its approach to the soapbox, when it does stand up and talk, the rhetoric is demure to the point of making the perennially conservative Sebastien Loeb guilty of gross grandiloquence.

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