HIRVO: I WON'T BACK DOWN

CITROEN

JERRY WILLIAMS

CITROEN'S NEW signing Mikko Hirvonen insists he will not approach his firs) season in Ihe French team with a second driver mentality.

While he says his focus is on settling into the DS3 as quickly as possible, he concedes that - as a two-time Ray Sweden winner -there wilt be a lair amount of pressure on him end the team's seven-year wait for a victory in Varmland.

The Finn sard. "Al least right now I don't leei the psychological thing of not being allowed to beat Sebastian Loeb. I'm just really excited to get to know everything.

'So far. I haven't even thought it's a shame that l can't flgnt' l reatfy ooni teel bad about this situation at all.

His Citroen debut win be ai next week's Monte Carlo Rally, where Loeb has won five of the last six.

"I don't think there will be too mgcn pressure in Monte' added Hirvonen -But in Sweden, maybe there's going to be more. The team is expecting good feedback for me with the car and some good speed there From what t have done in the car. I feel very good about things"

MIKKO HIRVONEN

He currently has a two-year deal at Citroen, but is refusing to consider trie possibility of Loeb retiring after 2012, leaving him as the team's number one driver, saying. "I'll just take it year by year."

TAKING THE TOUR

BOB PEARSON had to wait for the final race weekend to take out the 2011 Production Touring Car series, after leading the championship for most of the year in his Mitsubishi EVO X. Pearson was forced to miss the Wakefield Park round, allowing six other drivers to join him in the battle for the outright championship coming into the final round at Eastern Creek.

MARTIN'S 24HR PLAN

World Endurance Chanpionship Aussie Open-Wheel export John Martin is set to race in the World Endurance Championship this year. Martin is talking to several teams about a possible seat in the new category, with the Superleague Formula champion hoping to secure a drive in the competitive LMP2 ranks for 2012.

BUEMI EYES LE MANS 24HR DRIVE

Cast out from F1, Buemi hopes to garner seat time in the Le Mans 24 Hour. FORMULA ONE reject Sebastien Buemi is hopeful of securing a seat in this year's Le Mans 24 Hour with a major frontrunning team. Dumped by Toro Rosso at the end of last season, Buemi has recently signed on as Red Bull Racing's reserve F1 driver for 2012.

CHRISTMAS CRUNCH

MOTOGP American Nicky Hayden is recovering from a series of injuries suffered in a training accident while riding dirt bikes just days after Christmas in the United States. Former World Champion Hayden suffered a broken left scapula and two fractured ribs while riding flat track near his home in Kentucky on December 27.

DOVIZIOSO GETS AN UNLUCKY BREAK

Andrea Dovizioso is confident he'll be fit for winter testing later this month. ANDREA DOVIZIOSO'S switch to Monster Energy Tech3 Yamaha for 2012 has suffered a blow, with the Italian suffering a broken collarbone while riding motocross on January 5.

TAKING THE TOUR

MARTIN'S 24HR PLAN

BUEMI EYES LE MANS 24HR DRIVE

CHRISTMAS CRUNCH

DOVIZIOSO GETS AN UNLUCKY BREAK

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