Britain has been Andreas Mikkelsen’s rallying home for over a decade, and the Norwegian hopes to put that ‘local’ advantage to good use on this weekend’s Wales Rally GB.
In 2006, Andreas came to the UK to take his driving test a year earlier than he could have done in Norway – and just 16 days after his 17th birthday he took part in, and won, the Quinton Stages Rally, becoming the youngest ever winner of a British national rally. He also won the Coracle, Plains, Bulldog and Cambrian rallies that year, and then made his WRC debut on Wales Rally GB.
He doesn’t know the Welsh forests off by heart, but at least the flow and changing conditions are familiar territory to him.
Co-driven by Anders Jæger-Amland, Andreas arrives back in Wales fourth in the WRC drivers’ classification, having scored a fine third last time out in Turkey. And another good result this weekend could be crucial in Hyundai’s attempts to win the Manufacturers’ championship.
“Wales Rally GB is where I started my WRC career, so always holds a special place on the calendar for me,” says Andreas. “At this time of the year, as we tend to have more inclement late autumn weather, the conditions are usually very slippery - lots of rain and fog. It’s one of the trickiest gravel rallies we do all season as the stages are fast paced but also very muddy. Hopefully, we can continue our momentum from our podium finish in Turkey.”
Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger-Amland wear Stilo WRC DES Zero 8860 helmets.
