World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier cautioned against too high expectations as the opening round of the 2017 season, the Monte Carlo Rally, got under way on Wednesday.
The Frenchman, who has moved from the defunct Volkswagen team to M-Sport, admits he hasn't tested as much as he would have liked prior to the event, but says that won't be weighing on his mind this weekend.
"It’s true, this is the smallest amount of preparation I have ever done before the start of a new season," Ogier told Motorsport Week.
"I’ve been in the car for two days in Sweden last month and two days in France last week and done maybe 400km in each test. I’m not going to think much about that."
But he added that he was happy with the new M-Sport developed and built Fiesta WR Car, despite an interruption to his testing when he slid off and damaged the back of his car on the Col de Perty, near Monaco.
"For the damage on the car, it wasn’t too bad," he continued. "During the lunch break in the test, the conditions had changed. There was a little snow and there was some frost on the road. I caught this place and the car slid to the ditch and took the wheel out. It’s better that this happens in the test!"
But the three-time Monte winner was also forthright as he eyes adding to his success at the event.
"I am realistic about the preparation, though at the moment there is nothing that tells me I cannot win."
