Andreas Mikkelsen is signed by VW
Motorsport and happy with the outlook the next seasons, according to the
Norwegian. We had a talk to him prior to VW's presentation of the team
and VW Polo R WRC's livery for 2013, on Saturday 8th of December in
Monte Carlo (where else?). He had a thing or two to reveal. First: his
career until now.
As a multitalented boy, with talents both in alpine skiing and motocross, his career in rallying started just after he got his British license at the age of 17, winning Quinton Stages Rally on his debut in a Ford Focus RS WRC '02. The first season brought him no less than 4 more victories. He also started Wales Rally GB, but retired on the last leg. 2008 was important, as he contested 8 rallies in WRC. He finished 6 of them and placing as high as 9-10-10 in Ireland, Portugal and Norway, respectively. He is probably remembered by most fans for this in Rally GB 2008 though:
In 2008, he became the youngest point scorer in the history of WRC. Andreas finished Rally Sweden in fifth place at the age of 18, handling a Ford Focus RS WRC '06. Entering 6 other events in WRC that year, brought another top ten with 8th place in Spain. At the end of 2008, there were no more funding and he had to start from scratch, in a Subaru Impreza STi cup car.
Andreas confides:
I really matured starting from scratch in 2009. Taking it step by step and fighting my way back, only made me stronger.
From there, the rest is history. Winning the Golden Stage in Cyprus, before being picked up by Skoda UK ahead of 2011 and celebrating the overall win in IRC the last 2 seasons. At the same time, VW discovered him and brought him in for most of 2012, showing how much they believe in him. On par with or beating Sebastien Ogier on many occasions this year and earning a third car in 2013 from Rally Portugal, in VW Motorsport's return to the highest level with VW Polo R WRC.
With a lot of high's and low's, we asked what it has been like the last seasons:
The cooperation with Skoda the last two seasons has been just fantastic! The two titles won with the team is my best memories so far in my career. They took me under their wings two years ago and it has really been an experience for me, working with a manufacturer such as Skoda. When I'm moving on to VW Motorsport, I feel confident the cooperation will be good again. Looking back at this season, we have been driving a lot, both in IRC and WRC. It has worked out really well, winning the IRC and gathering a lot of experience in WRC. So, in 2013 I will be back in WRC and I promise I will make the most out of the opportunity given to me by VW!
And we understand you have split up with Ola Floene, a long-lasting relationship since your debut in 2006, care to elaborate the change of co-driver to Mikko Markkula?
The change of co-driver developed through the talks we had with VW. In 2013, I don't need to go for the top results. I just have to show progression throughout the year and prove I have what it takes to fight for victories in a few years. When VW wants me to peak in 3-4 years, we all agreed the best was to find a younger co-driver, who can sit with me for the rest of my career. That was how we came up with Mikko.
We brought up the fact that Norway is now one of the nations with the best prospects in rally, and wondered if he had seen someone up and coming in the domestic department:
We have of course the likes of Steve Rokland and Frank Tore Larsen, they have risen as obvious talents. The challenge is the economy and the resources available, which always has been a great obstacle in the sport. There are lots of drivers who has got what it takes, but will unfortunately be stopped along the way to reaching their targets because of shortage of money.
Andreas also stated he will most probably appear on rallies on home turf next year, and told us that he would drive some events ahead of his debut in the Polo WRC, but it was too early to tell what car he would drive.
When it comes to inspirations and idols, he replied when asked:
I've had a few role models and idols, both in rally and on personal level. I've received a lot of help from Marcus Gronholm, Henning and Petter Solberg. And what Sebastien Loeb has done with the sport of rally the last decade, I admire him a lot for.
We then asked humbly if he could rank the best drivers in 2013 (and this was before Petter Solberg announced his retirement from WRC)
Ogier - Latvala - Hirvonen - Solberg - Sordo
To be on the same level as these guys, I need more experience in WRC.
And to close the interview, we drew something hypothetically for him: Any car and we mean ANY CAR, which would you chose to modify within the WRC regulations, with regards to roll cage and engine enhancements etc?
A small Smart-model! Tune engine to 300hp and changing the suspension and fitting roll cage, that would be really fun!
So who dares taking Andreas' fantasy literally and build this little pocket-rocket?
As a multitalented boy, with talents both in alpine skiing and motocross, his career in rallying started just after he got his British license at the age of 17, winning Quinton Stages Rally on his debut in a Ford Focus RS WRC '02. The first season brought him no less than 4 more victories. He also started Wales Rally GB, but retired on the last leg. 2008 was important, as he contested 8 rallies in WRC. He finished 6 of them and placing as high as 9-10-10 in Ireland, Portugal and Norway, respectively. He is probably remembered by most fans for this in Rally GB 2008 though:
In 2008, he became the youngest point scorer in the history of WRC. Andreas finished Rally Sweden in fifth place at the age of 18, handling a Ford Focus RS WRC '06. Entering 6 other events in WRC that year, brought another top ten with 8th place in Spain. At the end of 2008, there were no more funding and he had to start from scratch, in a Subaru Impreza STi cup car.
Andreas confides:
I really matured starting from scratch in 2009. Taking it step by step and fighting my way back, only made me stronger.
From there, the rest is history. Winning the Golden Stage in Cyprus, before being picked up by Skoda UK ahead of 2011 and celebrating the overall win in IRC the last 2 seasons. At the same time, VW discovered him and brought him in for most of 2012, showing how much they believe in him. On par with or beating Sebastien Ogier on many occasions this year and earning a third car in 2013 from Rally Portugal, in VW Motorsport's return to the highest level with VW Polo R WRC.
With a lot of high's and low's, we asked what it has been like the last seasons:
The cooperation with Skoda the last two seasons has been just fantastic! The two titles won with the team is my best memories so far in my career. They took me under their wings two years ago and it has really been an experience for me, working with a manufacturer such as Skoda. When I'm moving on to VW Motorsport, I feel confident the cooperation will be good again. Looking back at this season, we have been driving a lot, both in IRC and WRC. It has worked out really well, winning the IRC and gathering a lot of experience in WRC. So, in 2013 I will be back in WRC and I promise I will make the most out of the opportunity given to me by VW!
And we understand you have split up with Ola Floene, a long-lasting relationship since your debut in 2006, care to elaborate the change of co-driver to Mikko Markkula?
The change of co-driver developed through the talks we had with VW. In 2013, I don't need to go for the top results. I just have to show progression throughout the year and prove I have what it takes to fight for victories in a few years. When VW wants me to peak in 3-4 years, we all agreed the best was to find a younger co-driver, who can sit with me for the rest of my career. That was how we came up with Mikko.
We brought up the fact that Norway is now one of the nations with the best prospects in rally, and wondered if he had seen someone up and coming in the domestic department:
We have of course the likes of Steve Rokland and Frank Tore Larsen, they have risen as obvious talents. The challenge is the economy and the resources available, which always has been a great obstacle in the sport. There are lots of drivers who has got what it takes, but will unfortunately be stopped along the way to reaching their targets because of shortage of money.
Andreas also stated he will most probably appear on rallies on home turf next year, and told us that he would drive some events ahead of his debut in the Polo WRC, but it was too early to tell what car he would drive.
When it comes to inspirations and idols, he replied when asked:
I've had a few role models and idols, both in rally and on personal level. I've received a lot of help from Marcus Gronholm, Henning and Petter Solberg. And what Sebastien Loeb has done with the sport of rally the last decade, I admire him a lot for.
We then asked humbly if he could rank the best drivers in 2013 (and this was before Petter Solberg announced his retirement from WRC)
Ogier - Latvala - Hirvonen - Solberg - Sordo
To be on the same level as these guys, I need more experience in WRC.
And to close the interview, we drew something hypothetically for him: Any car and we mean ANY CAR, which would you chose to modify within the WRC regulations, with regards to roll cage and engine enhancements etc?
A small Smart-model! Tune engine to 300hp and changing the suspension and fitting roll cage, that would be really fun!
So who dares taking Andreas' fantasy literally and build this little pocket-rocket?
Source: World-of-rally
