World champion Sebastien Ogier has double motivation to shine in this weekend’s all-tarmac Rally of Germany, the ninth leg of the 2014 season.

If Ogier manages to claim his sixth win of the year, he will move a significant step closer to defending his title.

A win on Sunday will also erase the bitter memory of last year’s embarrassing podium absence in what is his team Volkswagen’s home rally.

“We want to continue the success we have enjoyed so far this season,” the Frenchman told the sport’s official wrc.com website.

“And it is also important to make amends for last year’s miserable result by winning this time around.”

VW Motorsport chief Jost Capito said that since last year, they had a score to settle. “… that zero result in front of our fans did not leave a very pleasant memory.”

Volkswagen did not let last year’s reverse linger, since rattling off 12 consecutive wins.

They start hot favourites to make it 13 in a row this weekend. If successful, they will clinch the constructor’s title with four rallies remaining in 2014.

Ogier added: “The entire team is under greater pressure at its home event than at other rallies, but that can also be an advantage, as you are generally more focused under these circumstances.”

Ogier’s VW Polo teammate Jari-Matti Latvala has emerged as his closest challenger in the title race, the Finnish driver moving to within 44 points with victory in Finland last time out.

“My goal is to follow on from my success in Finland and challenge for the win again,” Latvala said.

Hyundai’s Dani Sordo is seeking to follow up last year’s win in Germany when he was behind the wheel of a Citroen.

“I’ve been looking forward to driving the Hyundai i20 WRC on proper tarmac since the beginning of the season,” the Spaniard said.

“I won the rally last year and it’s an event at which I feel very confident to drive although it can be difficult.”

The Rally of Germany gets under way with a spectator stage on Thursday, with the first of 18 official stages on Friday when most of the action takes place against the picturesque backdrop of the Mosel vineyard region.