Craig Breen says he's not feeling the pressure ahead of Rally Sweden where an opportunity has opened up to improve on the podium finish he achieved in the 2022 World Rally Championship opening round.
Waterford native Breen and co-driver Paul Nagle started their first full WRC campaign with an impressive third place in Monte Carlo in mid-January.
But the two drivers who finished first and second last time out, multiple world champions Sebastien Loeb - Breen's M Sport team-mate - and Sebastien Ogier, will be absent in Sweden, opening the door for the Irishman to potentially contend for a victory.
"Honestly, I've tried not to give it too much thought," said Breen of the possibility and the pressure that will naturally come with it.
"I don't think I could have had any more pressure than what I had in Monte [Carlo], when we were stepping up to the hills on the Thursday evening and then deep into the rally and I think with everything that went on before the event - having the accident and the testing - and the 10 years of waiting to get to that point.
"But we're not at that point this weekend. I'm feeling more relaxed and obviously I got the podium there. It definitely took the pressure away and honestly just can't wait to get going now and enjoy the rally."
The Sweden event brings the added challenge of starting closer to the front in the snow but it's one that Breen is looking forward to.
"It's something that I'm relishing. I've never had to do it before on a Friday of Rally Sweden," he said to RTÉ Sport's John Kenny.
"I've listened to the others leading the championship for the last couple of years complain about it and I've always had the fortune of starting further back but this is the joys of getting a full season. We start to be in a good position in the drivers' standing and I'm just really curious how it will be.
"I've no idea what to expect and I've no idea how it's going to feel but I just want to give it our best shot and see how we get on to try and maintain our good start in the drivers' championship and score good points and bring us to a good position into Croatia. That's all I'm looking for right now."
Breen also paid tribute to Eoin McCarthy, a 22-year-old rally driver who died following a crash at an event in Co Kerry on Sunday.
"It's desperately, desperately sad," he said.
"I followed the rally on Sunday over here, my dad was doing it and it's just devastating."
Breen added that it also resonated with him because of the memories it brought back of his former co-driver Gareth Roberts who died in 2012 after a crash in Italy.
"Every time there is a tragedy all around the world, it touches something in me because of my story but especially back home [in Ireland]," he said.
"It's fairly close to home. He was 22 years of age, just starting off in the sport, obviously from a rally family.
"At that level, it's all about pure fun and pure enjoyment and for it to end that way in those circumstances, it's just a tragedy and my condolences to the family and friends."
