Jari Ketomaa says he’s under no pressure to deliver a strong result on Neste Oil Rally Finland this week.
The 32-year-old Finn, who is driving a Ford Fiesta RS WRC in competition for the first time, completed a 75-kilometre test in the M-Sport-run car last Sunday.
He told Wrc.com: “I haven’t put any pressure on me what will be the position at the end. I’m sure if we can do our normal good driving and we don’t have any technical problems with the car the result will be very good because I’m very happy with the car.”
Ketomaa conceded that he would have preferred more time to acclimatise to the Fiesta he will share with co-driver Mika Stenberg.
“I got the whole day and at this point and I have to believe it’s enough,” he said. “We got 75 kilometres and it could be less, just shakedown, so at least we have some experience, which is very useful. I knew a bit of what to expect from driving the Fiesta S2000. The engine power is good and we made some changes so I have an idea about what to expect.”
Ketomaa added that he is working on a deal to contest two further rounds of this year’s WRC, Rallye de France and Wales Rally GB, although he has yet to finalise his plans.
“The WRC is where I want to be as a rally driver,” said Ketomaa. “I looked at the Super 2000 World Rally Championship but it costs quite a lot of money and I have already done it last year and proven my speed. I just need to be fast in World Rally Cars now and get my next goal.”