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Showing posts with label Rally. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rally. Show all posts
IRC 2012 is go: the season ahead
The 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season will feature 13 all-action rounds in Europe and will be watched by millions of fans around the world. Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store this year.February:
IRC season six gets underway on Sata Rallye Açores from 23-25 February, the Atlantic Archipelago’s fourth appearance in the IRC. Technical gravel stages run over spectacular landscapes and offer stunning views, while a changeable climate adds to the challenge.
March:
The season continues with Rally Islas El Corte Inglés from 15-17 March. Based in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria, the asphalt event is a mixture of undulating roads and narrow and fast sections. The surface is abrasive meaning grip levels are high but tyre wear can be at a premium.
April:
An exciting new addition to the IRC schedule for 2012, the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, which takes place from 6-7 April, is one of the world’s oldest rallies having run for the first time in 1931. It’s also one of the most popular with thousands of fans set to watch the challenging all-asphalt stages.
May:
Traditionally known as the ‘Rally of 10,000 Corners’ due to its high frequency of turns, the Tour de Corse joined the IRC family for the first time in 2011 with an exciting route covering large parts of the picturesque Mediterranean island. The event forms round four of the 2012 IRC from 11-12 May.
June:
Having enjoyed IRC Supporter Event status in the past, Hungary’s Canon Mecsek Rallye became a fully-fledged round of the series for the first time last season. Based in the city of Pécs – the 2010 European Capital of Culture – the rally uses high-speed asphalt stages and takes place from 2-3 June.
Later in the month (21-23 June), the GEKO Ypres Rally is held on farmland asphalt roads around the historic market town of Ypres in northwest Belgium. The narrow stages are lined by drainage ditches and are popularised by tight junctions to provide a huge test.
July:
One of three all-gravel events on the 2012 IRC calendar, the rally will take place for the 40th time next season when it runs from 6-7 July. The stages in the mountains in and around San Marino are made up of a mixture of fine and sandy gravel tracks and are notoriously challenging.
A former IRC Supporter Event, Romania’s Sibiu Rally now forms part of the full IRC schedule for the first time. Using mainly gravel stages albeit with a handful of Tarmac sections, the event runs from 20-22 July and is established as one of the country’s major sporting events.
August:
Crowds of up to 200,000 are treated to a rallying spectacular when Barum Czech Rally Zlín takes place from 31 August-2 September. The event is ranked as one of the most difficult on the IRC calendar due to the proliferation of high-speed blasts through forests and woodland, sections of broken Tarmac and the bumpy nature of some of the roads.
September:
The all-asphalt Prime Yalta Rally uses stages in mountains overlooking the Black Sea city of Yalta in Ukraine’s Crimea region from 15-16 September. While the compact rally was new to the IRC in 2011, it has been a long-term fixture in the country’s national rally championship.
Due to run for a 32nd time in 2012, Rally Sliven completes the list of IRC newcomers for this season and brings the total number of events in Eastern Europe to five. A mainstay of the Bulgarian championship, the rally is famed for its tricky and unique asphalt surface. It is held from 29-30 September.
October:
With Rallye Sanremo’s competitive action contained within a 24-hour window, a huge strain will be placed on car and crew when the event takes places from 12-13 October. The stages use narrow and undulating roads and feature fast and flowing sections, frequent changes of rhythm and blind and open corners with rapid climbs and descents.
November:
The Cyprus Rally joined the IRC for the first time in 2010 and became an instant hit with drivers and fans alike. Rough and rocky gravel roads, smooth and broken asphalt, plus punishing ambient temperatures combine to make the event one of the toughest on the calendar. The rally runs from 2-3 November and brings the 2012 IRC season to a close.
Source: IRC Series
Video: 2011 IRC Review - ŠKODA's remarkable year
The full story of ŠKODA's Andreas Mikkelsen clinched the 2011 IRC Drivers' title. From the disappointment of Monte Carlo to the victory in Cyprus, this movie tells the tale of a remarkable season.
Mikkelsen wins Romania rally driver award
Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Andreas Mikkelsen has claimed yet more silverware after winning Rally Magazin’s Rally Drive of the Year Award in Romania last night (15 December).Motor Media, a TV and video production company and publisher of the rallymagazin.ro website, organised the second edition of the Rally Magazin Awards, which took place in Bucharest. The ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver was unable to attend but sent a special video message instead.
It was a great achievement by the 22-year-old from Norway, who beat other nominees Sébastien Loeb, Sébastien Ogier, Mikko Hirvonen, Thierry Neuville and Juho Hänninen to the title.
“I’d like to thank Motor Media for this award, which I’m very proud to accept,” said Mikkelsen. “To beat such prestigious names to the title is a great honour, and it shows how significant the Intercontinental Rally Challenge has now become in motorsport. I’m looking forward to making my first visit to Romania next July for the Sibiu Rally, and as Rally Driver of the Year I’ll really have to try and prove that they made the best choice by winning!”
Video: Andreas thanks for 'Driver of the Year' Award:
Source: irc series
Tidemand to Follow in Mikkelsen’s Footsteps
Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Andreas Mikkelsen might only be 22 and showing no signs of slowing down but he’s already got a successor aiming to emulate his considerable achievements in the future.
Pontus Tidemand, a 20-year-old from Sweden, has been signed to Erik Veiby’s EVEN Rally AS, the management company behind Mikkelsen.
Tidemand, the youngest driver to win the Swedish title, will drive the same SKODA Fabia Super 2000 Mikkelsen used to win the IRC rounds in Scotland and Cyprus this season in his domestic championship in 2012. He could also contest a handful of rounds of the IRC in a similar car.
“This is a great opportunity for me,” said Tidemand. “Having support from EVEN Rally will be of great help to reach an even higher level.”
Source: World Rally Sport
Pontus Tidemand, a 20-year-old from Sweden, has been signed to Erik Veiby’s EVEN Rally AS, the management company behind Mikkelsen.
Tidemand, the youngest driver to win the Swedish title, will drive the same SKODA Fabia Super 2000 Mikkelsen used to win the IRC rounds in Scotland and Cyprus this season in his domestic championship in 2012. He could also contest a handful of rounds of the IRC in a similar car.
“This is a great opportunity for me,” said Tidemand. “Having support from EVEN Rally will be of great help to reach an even higher level.”
Source: World Rally Sport
Mikkelsen on Fifth Gear Highlights by Vicki Butler-Henderson
Last night I violently vomited down the side of a shiny new Skoda Fabia vRS - at speed and while sitting next to one of the world's most beautiful men.It was not my best evening. Or indeed my best look, but my competitive edge urged him not to pull over and pamper to my weak stomach.
At the helm was 22-year-old Andreas Mikkelsen, an indecently talented rally driver who holds the Intercontinental Rally title as well being a future World Rally Champion for sure.
We'd been blasting down a single track lane with such energy I was having a second look at my supper, and we still had 40 miles to go in our inaugural road rally.
In a bizarre nod of gratitude, it's thanks to British buses that you and I can compete against the clock in road rallies. Back in the swinging 60s a road traffic act declared racing on the highway illegal, but some bright spark worked out that buses run to a time and so this rule had to be re-worked.
Some grown-ups eventually decided on a limit of 12 vehicles that could run against the clock at any one time (as no more than a dozen buses would work one route).
And then an even brighter spark with a passion for motorsport came up with what I've just done, the 12-car Navigational Rally. They are organised by local car clubs up and down the country and cost from as little as £15, making them one of the cheapest forms of motorsport on offer. And they take place at night for some extra spice.
My evening started well - in a pub. I'd joined the Loughborough Car Club for one of their monthly mid-week outings and had enjoyed some jolly banter with fellow competitors over a baked potato (with tuna and cheese).
Kick-off was from the car park at 8pm for the 60-mile round trip, during which we had to log-in to a total of eight check-points at incredibly strict times, as well as looking and noting a variety of 'proof of passage' (POP) boards to ensure we'd gone on the right route.
These were in the shape of sawn-off car registration plates protruding from grass verges and could easily be missed with a heavy right foot.
As a novice navigator, I'd been given 40-minutes beforehand with a large table, an Ordnance Survey map and all the codes, grid references and anagrams that had to be deciphered before plotting where we were going. The regular teams are given this paperwork in stages at each check-point, and the navigator has to work these out ON THE MOVE. Unbelievable.
An Enigma machine would have been more useful to me than the pencil and stencil set I'd brought, and as the 40 minutes ticked by quickly I'm afraid I resorted to the old 'dumb bird' routine and secured some professional help with our route planning.
Spirits were high inside our little Skoda Fabia vRS at the start. Andreas shot off like a scalded cat and we were going great guns for, oh, at least the first 50 metres.
"Left here," I called our first instruction.
"No," came the response from the driver's seat.
"Yes!" I insisted.
"No," Andreas said, as he slowed to look at the map and waste precious time.
"Ah, um, sorry," I whimpered as it dawned on us how limited (and limiting) my passenger-seat skills were.
Following his nose more than my directions, Andreas whipped us through the first half-dozen miles with accuracy and such determination that we overtook three cars by the first check-point.Hurrah, we thought, but then we sat and watched them overtake us again before we could set off for the next section of the rally. It was at this point we remembered that a Navigational Rally is designed to have an average speed of 30mph and you don't win anything for leap-frogging other cars. We also realized we'd missed at least a dozen POPs, costing us precious points we could ill-afford. So with our tails tucked firmly away, we slowed our pace accordingly.
But my motion sickness had already set in thanks to looking at the map on my lap, out through the window for the POPs and constantly checking the clock. I subsequently learned that die-hard navigators don't eat until the chequered flag. Wish I'd known that sooner.
I also wish we'd been a little less speedy too, because if we'd seen all the POPs we would have finished second. As it was, we came home second to last.
Vicki Butler-Henderson with Andreas Mikkelsen
The co-drivers really are the stars on nights like this as they have an incredibly tough job. I'm sure after a few events the plotting becomes easier, but I won't ever find out because the next time I compete I'll be behind the wheel. And if Andreas wants another go he can take a sat-nav.
We'd had a giggle though, and I'd impressed the young buck enough for him to say: "I want a wife like that." Which is the best compliment I can wish for from a 22-year-old at my age.
Source: Cars.UK
IRC champion Andreas Mikkelsen visits Eurosport
Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Andreas Mikkelsen visited the offices of Eurosport in Paris earlier today ahead of this evening’s IRC Awards Ceremony in the French capital.
During his visit, the 22-year-old ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver met members of the Eurosport Events team – the company responsible for promoting the IRC – was given a guided tour of the Eurosport studios, answered questions from fans on Eurosport’s Facebook page and signed copies of the IRC Yearbook for Eurosport employees when he recalled some of his memories of his title-winning season in the IRC.
One of the highlights of Mikkelsen’s visit was a short meeting with Laurent Eric Le Lay, chairman and CEO of Eurosport.
Afterwards Mikkelsen said: “For me it was very interesting to see what it takes to make Eurosport’s fantastic television coverage. There is a lot of hard work behind the scenes and everyone is very professional. There is also a great team effort because it’s nice that people all around the building know what the people at Eurosport Events do and what happens in the IRC.”
Source: irc series
During his visit, the 22-year-old ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver met members of the Eurosport Events team – the company responsible for promoting the IRC – was given a guided tour of the Eurosport studios, answered questions from fans on Eurosport’s Facebook page and signed copies of the IRC Yearbook for Eurosport employees when he recalled some of his memories of his title-winning season in the IRC.
One of the highlights of Mikkelsen’s visit was a short meeting with Laurent Eric Le Lay, chairman and CEO of Eurosport.
Afterwards Mikkelsen said: “For me it was very interesting to see what it takes to make Eurosport’s fantastic television coverage. There is a lot of hard work behind the scenes and everyone is very professional. There is also a great team effort because it’s nice that people all around the building know what the people at Eurosport Events do and what happens in the IRC.”
Source: irc series
Mikkelsen can’t wait to hit the road for Circuit of Ireland
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.”
Exciting IRC calendar for 2012 revealed
Source: ircseriesFour all-new events in Bulgaria, Ireland, Romania and San Marino *Five rounds in Eastern Europe *Classics such as Rallye Sanremo and Tour de Corse remain *Extra rounds on gravel
More events in the emerging Eastern European marketplace, visits to unchartered territories plus the inclusion of several classics, such as Rallye Sanremo and Tour de Corse, are among the highlights of the revamped Intercontinental Rally Challenge schedule for 2012.
In addition, ground-breaking SimulCam technology – which was pioneered this season and allows viewers to watch two cars tackling the same section of a stage at the same time – will be used in the television coverage from eight of the 13 events next year, thereby underlining Eurosport’s growing commitment to the all-action series.
Starting with the gravel-based Sata Rallye Açores in February and concluding with the mixed-surface Cyprus Rally in early November, the calendar will feature 13 rounds with events in Canary Islands, Ireland, Corsica, Hungary (Mecsek), Belgium (Ypres), San Marino, Romania, Czech Republic (Zlín), Ukraine (Yalta), Bulgaria (Sliven) and Italy (Sanremo).
In total there will be four new rallies on next season’s calendar: Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, Rally San Marino, Sibiu Rally Romania and Rally Sliven in Bulgaria. The inclusion of newcomers Bulgaria and Romania means that along with the existing IRC rounds in Czech Republic, Hungary and Ukraine there are now five events in the increasingly important Eastern European region.
As well as featuring two more events than this year, there is a greater number of gravel rounds planned for 2012 with three loose-surface qualifiers, up one from this year, plus one mixed-surface event appearing on the new list of dates. The extra event on gravel will raise the challenge facing crews as well as the spectacle for fans watching stage-side or at home on television.
There are nine rounds based purely on asphalt, while the Cyprus Rally will be the only event to use a combination of gravel and asphalt stages.
The inclusion of the Circuit of Ireland Rally will maintain an IRC round in the United Kingdom with many of the stages taking place in Northern Ireland. The event, which ran for the first time in 1931, is one of oldest rallies in the world and attracts huge support.
François Ribeiro, Eurosport Events’ Motorsport Business Director, said: “We are very pleased to have finalised the 2012 IRC calendar during what is a very exciting time for the IRC. With new territories, more gravel rallies, the continued inclusion of some of the sport’s most iconic events, plus the increased use of SimulCam technology in the live television broadcasts, IRC season six is set to be a big hit with the fans, drivers and teams.
“With more events in Eastern Europe the IRC will also benefit from new marketing and promotional opportunities, not to mention the huge numbers of spectators that attend those events. The new calendar will create an ideal platform for drivers to demonstrate their talents and for manufacturers and customer teams to showcase their products and services. We can’t wait for the action to get underway.”
2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge calendar *
Round 1, 23-25 February: Sata Rallye Açores (gravel)
Round 2, 15-17 March: Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés (asphalt)
Round 3, 6-7 April: Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally (asphalt)
Round 4, 11-12 May: Tour de Corse (asphalt)
Round 5, 2-3 June: Canon Mecsek Rallye (Hungary, asphalt)
Round 6, 21-23 June: GEKO Ypres Rally (Belgium, asphalt)
Round 7, 6-7 July: Rally San Marino (gravel)
Round 8, 20-22 July: Sibiu Rally Romania (gravel)
Round 9, 31 August-2 September: Barum Czech Rally Zlín (asphalt)
Round 10, 15-16 September: Prime Yalta Rally (Ukraine, asphalt)
Round 11, 29-30 September: Rally Sliven (Bulgaria, asphalt)
Round 12, 12-13 October: Rallye Sanremo (Italy, asphalt)
Round 13, 2-3 November: Cyprus Rally (gravel/asphalt)
* Subject to FIA World Motor Sport Council approval.
Seb Ogier & Andy Mikkelsen partners in Volkswagen?
Source: The Sun
The mighty Volkswagen group are aiming to storm the World Rally Championship after signing fast Frenchman Sebastien Ogier to lead the new team.
Og
ier, who endured a fraught time with Citroen as he battled team-mate Sebastien Loeb for this year's WRC title, may well be joined for the attack by honorary Brit Andreas Mikkelsen.
Andy Mick is well known to SunSport readers as he won this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge for The Sun's motorsport partners Skoda.
He will return to the Skoda UK squad to defend his title in 201 but may also have a few WRC outings in the second-tier S2000 class.
It is clear the brilliant 22-year-old is a favourite son of VW, Skoda's parent company.
And although he is not a dead cert for the company's second Polo WRC car, he has to be a top contender.
VW will launch their onslaught in 2013 after using 2012 as a development and experimental year.
It means the WRC is poised to return to its former glory with four manufacturers — VW, Citroen, Ford and BMW Mini — battling for honours.
Ogier, 27, said: "Volkswagen will soon be No1 in the world.
"I'm sure they are going to compete with the goal of clinching the WRC title and I'm happy to be part of this from the outset."
Mikkelsen, who is not counting his chickens, has avoided talking about VW's aspirations.
He just is simply happy to have repaid Skoda's faith in him by winning the IRC championship.
Mikkelsen added: "The aim now is to try to become the first driver to successfully defend his title."
The mighty Volkswagen group are aiming to storm the World Rally Championship after signing fast Frenchman Sebastien Ogier to lead the new team.
Og
ier, who endured a fraught time with Citroen as he battled team-mate Sebastien Loeb for this year's WRC title, may well be joined for the attack by honorary Brit Andreas Mikkelsen.Andy Mick is well known to SunSport readers as he won this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge for The Sun's motorsport partners Skoda.
He will return to the Skoda UK squad to defend his title in 201 but may also have a few WRC outings in the second-tier S2000 class.
It is clear the brilliant 22-year-old is a favourite son of VW, Skoda's parent company.
And although he is not a dead cert for the company's second Polo WRC car, he has to be a top contender.
VW will launch their onslaught in 2013 after using 2012 as a development and experimental year.
It means the WRC is poised to return to its former glory with four manufacturers — VW, Citroen, Ford and BMW Mini — battling for honours.
Ogier, 27, said: "Volkswagen will soon be No1 in the world.
"I'm sure they are going to compete with the goal of clinching the WRC title and I'm happy to be part of this from the outset."
Mikkelsen, who is not counting his chickens, has avoided talking about VW's aspirations.
He just is simply happy to have repaid Skoda's faith in him by winning the IRC championship.
Mikkelsen added: "The aim now is to try to become the first driver to successfully defend his title."
The 2011 IRC season review
Source: Autosport
The fifth Intercontinental Rally Challenge was the best yet, and it was Skoda UK driver Andreas Mikkelsen who emerged as champion from a tense five-way shootout at the season finale. Matt Beer reviews the season.
Andreas Mikkelsen didn't look like a man destined to be the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion when he smacked his Skoda into a barrier within yards of the
start of the Monte Carlo Rally in January. But just as his title-winning predecessors Kris Meeke and Juho Hanninen had done before him, Mikkelsen used a full campaign in rallying's burgeoning second-tier category to out-grow his predilection for calamity without losing his blistering speed, and proved he is ready for a big future at world championship level.
In 2011 the IRC boasted greater season-long strength in depth than the still-young series had mustered before and produced its closest action yet. Four rallies included victory margins of under two seconds, and five drivers went into the season finale with a title shot (six on paper, had Bryan Bouffier been present). And while the scoring system put greater emphasis on the concluding rounds in Scotland and Cyprus, even without the bonus points the fight would have been subject to a five-way battle.
The fifth Intercontinental Rally Challenge was the best yet, and it was Skoda UK driver Andreas Mikkelsen who emerged as champion from a tense five-way shootout at the season finale. Matt Beer reviews the season.
Andreas Mikkelsen didn't look like a man destined to be the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion when he smacked his Skoda into a barrier within yards of the
start of the Monte Carlo Rally in January. But just as his title-winning predecessors Kris Meeke and Juho Hanninen had done before him, Mikkelsen used a full campaign in rallying's burgeoning second-tier category to out-grow his predilection for calamity without losing his blistering speed, and proved he is ready for a big future at world championship level.In 2011 the IRC boasted greater season-long strength in depth than the still-young series had mustered before and produced its closest action yet. Four rallies included victory margins of under two seconds, and five drivers went into the season finale with a title shot (six on paper, had Bryan Bouffier been present). And while the scoring system put greater emphasis on the concluding rounds in Scotland and Cyprus, even without the bonus points the fight would have been subject to a five-way battle.
ŠKODA UK Confirms Mikkelsen for IRC Title Defence in 2012
Source: SkodaUK MotorsportŠKODA UK Confirms Mikkelsen for Intercontinental Rally Challenge Title Defence in 2012
The newly-crowned Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers’ champion Andreas Mikkelsen will return to defend his title in 2012 in the same factory-prepared ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 that he and co-driver Ola Fløene won the series in this year.
Once again, the ŠKODA UK Motorsport team will also be an integral points-scoring part of ŠKODA’s drive to win the IRC manufacturers’ title for a third consecutive time.
The 22-year old driver led the last six rallies of the 2011 IRC (Azores, Czech Rep., Hungary, Sanremo, Scotland and Cyprus), winning the last two events and claiming the title at Rally Cyprus. Andreas also recorded an unbeaten 38 fastest special stage times on his way to becoming the youngest-ever IRC champion.
A respected gravel driver, Andreas’ test programme and FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy training has also turned him into an equally formidable driver on asphalt.
For its third full season in the IRC, ŠKODA UK Motorsport will once again enter a latest spec Fabia S2000 prepared by ŠKODA Motorsport, which will continue to be run on events by the highly experienced ŠKODA Rally Team Italia.
Andreas: “I really couldn’t believe that we’d won the IRC drivers’ title when I crossed the finish line of the Cyprus Rally! We knew we had a chance of becoming 2011 champions. It was a slim chance, but it proves that in life you should never give up.
”I really want to thank ŠKODA UK for giving me this opportunity to drive for them in 2011 and I’m so happy to repay their faith in me by winning the drivers’ title. The aim now is to try to become the first driver to successfully defend his IRC title. We’ll be back in 2012 in a factory-prepared ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 to with that goal and to support ŠKODA in claiming the manufacturers’ title for the third year running.”
Robert Hazelwood, ŠKODA UK Director: “This has been a tremendous season, with dramatic highs and lows. The high of ŠKODA winning the drivers’ title is fantastic, and does what we set out to do – creates excitement for the ŠKODA Skoda brand for our customers, our retailers and their staff and our own staff. I applaud Andreas and Ola on their achievement and can’t wait to get started on the exciting 2012 IRC campaign.”
Official: Mikkelsen is fastest IRC driver
Source: irc series
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Not only did Andreas Mikkelsen win the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title following a dramatic five-way battle for the title on the Cyprus Rally earlier this month, he also ended the 2011 IRC season as the fastest driver.
Mikkelsen, who drove a ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 on all 11 rounds alongside co-driver Ola Fløene, was quickest on 38 out of the 157 special stages scheduled during the course of the season. Thierry Neuville was fastest on 24 stages, while former champion Juho Hänninen set the pace on 21 occasions.
The full list of IRC stage winners in 2011 follows:
Andreas Mikkelsen: 38
Thierry Neuville: 24
Juho Hänninen: 21
Jan Kopecký: 19
Freddy Loix: 18
Guy Wilks: 10
Bryan Bouffier: 9
Stéphane Sarrazin: 4
Patrik Sandell: 3
Nasser Al-Attiyah: 1
Giandomenico Basso: 1
François Delecour: 1
Bruno Magalhães: 1
Nicolas Vouilloz: 1
Q&A: with Andreas Mikkelsen - The IRC Champion!
Source: IRCSERIESAndreas Mikkelsen became the youngest Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion following a thrilling five-way fight for the title on the Cyprus Rally, which finished in Pafos on Saturday evening. This is what he had to say…
Andreas, the 2011 IRC champion and the youngest ever driver to take the IRC title, how does it feel?
“It’s hard to describe with words. It’s been a long weekend. After Juho went off everything was possible. We had a fight with Thierry but when he had his problems things were a little bit easier for us. Then it was Nasser and Jan. In one way we got it go a little bit easy when the others had their problems, but especially on the last three stages I must say when we got the puncture I must say for sure Jan is going to take the title but then he also had a puncture.”
What was it like crossing the finishing line of the final stage realising you were champion?
“The last two stages I heard so much noise, which I’d never heard before in the car. I was thinking of all the problems that we can have. It was two long stages and crossing that finish line on the last two stages was something special. I was crying like a baby but when you have worked so hard for something for five years now after I quit my alpine skiing to try and be really good in rallying and to be on top here in the IRC. It was a very special moment for the whole team. We’ve been working really hard this year so I’m very happy it happened here.”
How much confidence did it give you when Juho, Thierry and Nasser retired?
“When we had a little gap it’s always hard to keep the concentration level at 100 per cent. But we managed to do that in a good way. As I said crossing the finish line it was after three of the longest stages of my life. It was special.”
You mentioned thinking Jan might beat you to the title when you had your puncture but after your crash on Rallye Monte-Carlo did you ever doubt you could hit back?
“To become IRC champion is such a fantastic feeling, the likes of which I have never felt before. It’s been a tough season, which didn’t start so well in Monte Carlo but which has just kept getting better and better. We’ve had a fantastic second half of the year and wow, to finish with a win in Cyprus and the IRC drivers’ title, I can hardly believe it has happened. It’s like a dream.”
You effectively dominated this event from the start. What would you say is the key to success in Cyprus?
“Well it’s definitely possible to go faster than we have done but at the risk of breaking the car. We found a good balance between going fast and saving the car at the same time. That is the key to success here in Cyprus.”
How did the mixed surface nature of the event affect your drive?
“It was actually very, very fun. I really enjoyed it. To have Tarmac and gravel on the same stage and doing Tarmac on gravel tyres was fun. You can slide a little bit so I really enjoyed it.”
What’s next for you and your career?
“I don’t know, apart from a big dinner. Of course there will be some more IRC events next year but I don’t really know more than that.”
Now you’ve had a lot of support this season and during your career. Do you have a message for those people who have helped you?
“I’d really like to thank everyone at ŠKODA UK Motorsport and ŠKODA Motorsport for and giving me this opportunity this year. It’s a special moment for everyone. So much effort has been put in over the last five years of my rallying career, not just by me, but the people around me. To give this title back to everyone who has been involved is incredible.”
Andreas Mikkelsen: The New IRC Champion
Source: IRCSERIESAndreas Mikkelsen became the fifth different driver to win the coveted Intercontinental Rally Challenge title following a thrilling climax to the 2011 season on the Cyprus Rally, which he contested alongside co-driver Ola Fløene. Find out more about ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s new star below.
2011: Signs for ŠKODA UK Motorsport, wins IRC title with victories in Scotland and Cyprus
2010: Claims maiden IRC podium on RACMSA Rally of Scotland and wins Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally. Also takes victory in the Super 2000 World Rally Championship section on Rally GB
2009: Lack of funds rules out expanded world championship campaign but with the help of his new manager Erik Veiby, Mikkelsen secures a season in his domestic championship and wins Norwegian Group N title and Subaru Cup. Wins Rally Cost Brava and drives ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 in competition for the first time, finishing third on Rally Bohemia in Czech Republic
2008: Becomes youngest driver to score world championship points when he finishes fifth on Rally Sweden. Wins Rally Finnskog and Rally Numedal in Norway
2007: Tackles eight world championship rallies and selected Irish Tarmac Rally Championship events
2006: Makes rally debut and wins several national events in the UK plus the Saaremaa Rally in Estonia
2005: Knee injury ends promising skiing career during which he had become a member of the Norwegian national team. Undeterred he switches his attentions to rallying and before he’s old enough to drive on the road, Mikkelsen undertakes intensive training in a rally car on closed forest roads and on frozen lakes during the winter in Norway
2003-2004: Represents Norwegian national team in motocross and skiing events
1989: Born 22 June in Oslo, Norway
Emotional Mikkelsen celebrates IRC title
Source: MaxRallyNorwegian star Andreas Mikkelsen says that winning the IRC title for Skoda UK has been the most emotional experience of his rallying career.
"To become IRC champion is such a fantastic feeling, the likes of which I have never felt before,” he said. “The last three stages of this rally were the longest of my life and I was imagining so much noise in the car that I’ve never heard before. Crossing the finish line was very emotional and I was crying like a baby! It’s been a tough season, which didn’t start so well in Monte Carlo but which has got better and better. We’ve had a fantastic second half of the year and, wow, to finish with a win in Cyprus and the IRC drivers’ title – I can hardly believe it has happened. It’s like a dream.”
Mikkelsen won both the Rally Cyprus and the Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy (the second time he has won the trophy this year). He also concluded the year with the highest number of fastest stage times – 38 – of all the drivers in the IRC.
Factory Skoda driver Jan Kopecky finished second to clinch the runner-up spot in the IRC series for the third consecutive year.
>>>Video
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