Citroen's Meeke now wants straight fight with WRC champion Ogier
Rally Argentina winner Kris Meeke says victory over Sebastien Ogier in a straight fight is his next World Rally Championship target
Citroen star Meeke took his maiden win in South America last month, but did so after reigning champion Ogier had hit engine trouble aboard his Volkswagen.
"I'm not going to get ahead of myself," Meeke told AUTOSPORT.
"I won in Argentina, but I'm fully aware that I won when Sebastien was out of the equation on stage two.
"The objective, the next step for me, has to be to beat him on a weekend when he's on song and that's what I'm focused on.
"I'm not about to say it's going to happen in Portugal next time out, I don't know what's going to happen there.
"But I'm under no illusions here about what I did in Argentina.
"I'm fully realistic about where I am; it was another box ticked for me, but there are plenty more boxes coming up."
Ogier admitted he had been impressed the level-headed approach that allowed Meeke to lead from the second stage of the Villa Carlos Paz event.
"Kris proved some good pace at the beginning of the rally and then he was in the position to be safe," said Ogier.
"He did it well in Argentina, both him and Mads [Ostberg] did a good job for Citroen on that event.
"They were maybe the only two drivers without any problems, but still they had to do the job so we have to say well done."
The VW driver said Meeke should not be ruled out of the championship fight, despite only being fifth in the standings entering this week's Rally Portugal, where Citroen will debut its upgrades.
"For sure he is a title rival," said Ogier.
"I have respect for every one of my competitors and Kris is definitely a good driver.
"With this victory he is, let's say, launching his championship a little bit.
"He's not so far behind when you consider the long way to go to the end of the season."
Meeke was more sceptical about his chances.
"Talk of me being in the title fight doesn't make sense," he countered.
"He's on 84 points and I've got 35.
"I'm very happy with the win and I'll keep doing what I'm doing, but I don't see myself fighting [for the championship] this year.
"We saw Volkswagen have more problems than before in Argentina and there's no doubt they will be working flat out to put those right.
"With all the resource and ability Volkswagen has at its disposal, there's no doubt that they'll all be back in Portugal."
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