Source: Belfast Telegraph
Andreas Mikkelsen has been quick to welcome the Circuit of Ireland’s inclusion in next season’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge series.
The 21-year-old Norwegian is the current IRC champion, having secured the title on the final round in Cyprus earlier this month, but he is no stranger to Ireland or Irish events.
Indeed, he cut his rally teeth here and earned himself an enthusiastic fanbas
e on rallies like the Circuit and the Ulster International.
Mikkelsen was just 17 when he began his rally career in the British and Irish Tarmac championships.
Too young to qualify for a driving licence in Norway, he moved to the UK, passing his driving test just two days before making his rally debut on the Quinton Rally in England — which he won.
Over the next two years Mikkelsen was a regular on Irish events, including the Circuit, where he finish third in 2007, driving WRC Ford Focuses for the Ramsport team and building experience.
Now he is to return as IRC champion.
Like Kris Meeke, who was champion in 2009, it was Mikkelsen’s move to the Intercontinental Challenge that propelled him into the world rally spotlight.
He was a controversial choice this year to replace Guy Wilks in the Skoda UK team.
But Mikkelsen proved an inspired choice, becoming an instant front runner and finishing strongly with back-to-back wins in Scotland and Cyprus to deny Skoda’s “favoured son” Jan Kopecky the IRC title.
He has been re-signed by Skoda UK for 2012 and is already looking forward to returning to Ireland when the IRC series touches down at Easter.
“The drivers will enjoy the challenge the Circuit of Ireland presents. But it is a very big test.
“I think it will be a really important round of the championship and I am looking forward to it.”
“I have a lot of memories of Irish rallies, some good, some not so good, but I always remember the friends I made and the enthusiasm of the fans there.”
Andreas Mikkelsen has been quick to welcome the Circuit of Ireland’s inclusion in next season’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge series.
The 21-year-old Norwegian is the current IRC champion, having secured the title on the final round in Cyprus earlier this month, but he is no stranger to Ireland or Irish events.
Indeed, he cut his rally teeth here and earned himself an enthusiastic fanbas
e on rallies like the Circuit and the Ulster International.Mikkelsen was just 17 when he began his rally career in the British and Irish Tarmac championships.
Too young to qualify for a driving licence in Norway, he moved to the UK, passing his driving test just two days before making his rally debut on the Quinton Rally in England — which he won.
Over the next two years Mikkelsen was a regular on Irish events, including the Circuit, where he finish third in 2007, driving WRC Ford Focuses for the Ramsport team and building experience.
Now he is to return as IRC champion.
Like Kris Meeke, who was champion in 2009, it was Mikkelsen’s move to the Intercontinental Challenge that propelled him into the world rally spotlight.
He was a controversial choice this year to replace Guy Wilks in the Skoda UK team.
But Mikkelsen proved an inspired choice, becoming an instant front runner and finishing strongly with back-to-back wins in Scotland and Cyprus to deny Skoda’s “favoured son” Jan Kopecky the IRC title.
He has been re-signed by Skoda UK for 2012 and is already looking forward to returning to Ireland when the IRC series touches down at Easter.
“The drivers will enjoy the challenge the Circuit of Ireland presents. But it is a very big test.
“I think it will be a really important round of the championship and I am looking forward to it.”
“I have a lot of memories of Irish rallies, some good, some not so good, but I always remember the friends I made and the enthusiasm of the fans there.”
