Andreas Mikkelsen Fansite: Skoda Fabia S2000

Showing posts with label Skoda Fabia S2000. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Skoda Fabia S2000. Show all posts

Andreas Mikkelsen satisfied despite Acropolis woe

Andreas Mikkelsen says the experience he gained on his Acropolis Rally debut last month more than made up for the disappointment of his retirement on the final day of Greece’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Co-driven by Ola Floene, Mikkelsen was on course for a top 10 finish in his Volkswagen Motorsport-run Skoda Fabia Super 2000 when disaster struck on stage 18 of the 22-stage event.

“I misunderstood a [pace note from] Ola and went into a corner too quickly,” said the 22-year-old Norwegian. “When I noticed I braked, but sideswiped a rock and damaged the left rear suspension.

“On one hand I’m somewhat disappointed but on the other hand I’m very satisfied. We were able to collect experience on the stages, which were completely new to us and also see that we could essentially maintain the pace of our team mates. On the other hand there is our late retirement.”

There were no such problems for Mikkelsen’s team-mate Sebastien Ogier who finished seventh overall, the fourth event in succession that the French driver has scored WRC points.

“We achieved the maximum with our Fabia S2000,” said Ogier. “The rally with its long days was also a real challenge for our team and I can only thank and congratulate the crew for its performance.”

Source: wrc.com

Mixed feelings on Greece outcome for Andreas Mikkelsen

Norwegian ace had to call it early in Greece after an error on special stage 18, but Andreas Mikkelsen still claims he is satisfied with the overall pace behind the wheel of Škoda Fabia S2000.

Mikkelsen was once again pushing Sebastien Ogier until being instructed by the team to bring the car safely home. Unfortunately for him that did not exactly happen as another mistake sent Mikkelsen and his co-driver Ola Fløene out of the rally. There is no doubt Mikkelsen is fast, very fast, but quite like Jari-Matti Latvala he needs to find the balance to keep it on the road.

“On the one hand I’m very satisfied, and on the other somewhat disappointed,” summarised the 22-year old Mikkelsen. “We were able to collect experience on the stages which were completely new to us and also see that we could essentially maintain the pace of our team mates. On the other hand there is our late retirement: I misunderstood a statement for Ola and went into a corner too quickly. When I noticed I braked, but sideswiped a rock and damaged the left rear suspension.”

Source: World Rally Blog

Andreas Mikkelsen rules out fighting Ogier on Acropolis Rally

Volkswagen Motorsport driver Andreas Mikkelsen has ruled out any chance of another thrilling battle with team-mate Sebastien Ogier on this week's Acropolis Rally.

The scrap between the two Skoda Fabia S2000s was one of the highlights of Rally Argentina last month, but Mikkelsen says the extreme nature of the Acropolis Rally means he will not be able to run as quickly as Ogier.

The Norwegian was new to Rally Argentina, where he led the seven-time world rally winner, for much of the event, but Mikkelsen admitted his maiden outing in Greece is a different proposition.

"This was a rally he won last year and the stages are more or less all the same," said Mikkelsen. "In Argentina, there were some new stages and that was a good rally for us. I don't think we will fight with him here. It will be more tough this time - my aim is to get to the finish to get to know this rally."

Mikkelsen admitted he had been shocked at how rough the day-two roads were during the recce.

"I heard some rumours about how rough this rally was and today we saw that,' said Mikkelsen. "It was very rough today. The rocks are so big and we have to drive over them.

"I don't know how we approach these kind of stages because I never drove them before - I guess we will just figure it out when we get there. Seb [Ogier] told me the Michelin tyre is strong and it will stand going through the rocks, he says it's no problem."

The fascinating Mikkelsen-Ogier South American tussle was decided when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion's Fabia suffered suspension failure on the final day.

Source: Autosport

Andreas Mikkelsen impresses team-mate Ogier

Sebastien Ogier admits he's been impressed by team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen's pace on Philips Rally Argentina.

The Volkswagen Motorsport aces have been evenly matched for much of the day with Ogier three-tenths of a second in front of Mikkelsen at the midday service in Villa Carlos Paz.

While a puncture for Ogier and a broken suspension damper for Mikkelsen has distorted the battle, they are 20s apart heading to Friday’s final stage in their Super 2000 specification Skoda Fabias.

“It’s been interesting because Andreas has been pushing a lot and it’s close between us,” said Ogier, who is currently ninth overall, two places behind Mikkelsen. “I lost 50 seconds with a puncture and one tyre off the rim on stage four. Because I had no more spares I had to be really cautious on the last one, especially on the rough parts. Then he lost 25s with a broken suspension.

“The rally is still very long with 300 kilometres left. Now we have the same conditions so I hope the battle between us will continue to the end.”

Source: wrc.com

Mikkelsen vows to impress in Argentina

Andreas Mikkelsen wants to put on a strong showing when he makes his debut on Philips Rally Argentina, round five of the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia, which starts on Thursday (26 April).

The highly rated Norwegian is a graduate of the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy. He starts his second event of the year in a Volkswagen Motorsport Skoda Fabia Super 2000 as part of a programme evaluating prospective drivers for Volkswagen’s official WRC entry in 2013.

“It’s important to finish and to gather as much experience as possible,” said the 22-year-old, who won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2011. “Yet it’s also about showing my talent and proving that I’m capable of handling such a difficult rally well. The round in Argentina is very long and it’ll be important to find a good balance between speed and safety in order to keep from overtaxing the car. Fitness, too, will play a role. Even the preparation of the [pace] notes prior to the rally across this long distance demands the driver’s and the co-driver’s full concentration.”

Frenchman Sebastien Ogier will appear in a second Volkswagen-run Skoda. He is also expecting a tough challenge over the route, which features a competitive distance of 503 kilometres.

“It’s the longest rally I’ve ever driven,” said Ogier, who led in Argentina last season before finishing third. “For the drivers as well as for the mechanics, it’s likely to be a very strenuous run. You’ve got to manage your energy levels really well and the car, too, is in for an endurance test.”

Source: wrc.com

Meeke: Hänninen and Mikkelsen are world class

Kris Meeke has singled out performances by Juho Hänninen and Andreas Mikkelsen on the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, describing them as “very, very impressive”.

The former Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion was speaking following his visit to the second stage of the event, which passed less than two kilometres from his home near Dungannon in Northern Ireland.

“It was the first time I’ve watched a rally in a long, long time and I have to say I was very, very impressed with what I saw,” said Meeke, who won the IRC title in 2009 driving for Peugeot UK. “Hänninen and Mikkelsen are definitely on top of their games and you can argue that nobody else in the world are as quick as they are in Super 2000 cars.”

Hänninen eventually won the event, his ninth victory in the IRC, with Mikkelsen claiming second in a similar ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.

Source: irc series

Experience key for Volkswagen in Argentina

Volkswagen Motorsport will put the development of its new-for-2013 Polo R WRC to one side when it enters Philips Rally Argentina next week.

The German squad is contesting this season’s FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia with a fleet of Skoda Fabia Super 2000s in readiness for its participation as a full-blown manufacturer entry next year.

It has stayed on after the recent rounds in Mexico and Portugal to test its Polo World Rally Car but with no testing planned until after the squad returns to its Hanover base from the trip to South America, the focus in Argentina will be on giving Sebastien Ogier and junior driver Andreas Mikkelsen experience of the event. At the same time, Volkswagen will also implement improvements to its logistical processes that have been reviewed following Rally Guanajuato Mexico in March.

“There are new stages this year so it’s important our drivers get some experience of those,” said team manager Sven Smeets. “Also, it’s only our second overseas rally and our first time doing a world championship rally in Argentina so there are things we will look to improve with our logistics [following our first overseas rally in Mexico]. There is now no more testing planned until after Argentina, which is how [the technical department] wanted it.”

Ogier has been an ever-present with Volkswagen this season, while Mikkelsen will be making his second appearance of the year with the team.

Source: wrc.com

Andreas Mikkelsen lost consciousness in Circuit crash

By Charlie Contadeli

Andreas Mikkelsen has described the incident that cost him victory on the Circuit of Ireland Rally last week and, for several seconds, left him unconscious.

Mikkelsen was dicing with Juho Hanninen for victory on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event when he lost control braking for a rain-coated left-hand turn on the first run through the Lisburn street stage.

His Skoda UK Motorsport Fabia made hefty contact with a protected hay bale leaving Mikkelsen momentarily concussed after it is understood his crash helmet struck part of his seat support.

“What cost us the chance of victory was a left-hand corner in Lisburn,” said Mikkelsen. “It was raining and very slippery and I just lost the car and went sideways into a hay bale, and we lost a lot of time. It was quite a hard hit. I was a bit dazed, and to be honest I don’t remember so much about it. I was happy to be able to finish the last three stages, because I wasn’t feeling so good.”

Following the incident Mikkelsen’s car was stationary for more than 30 seconds before he was able to complete the stage and finish the rally in second position. It has since emerged that his co-driver Ola Floene began prodding the young Norwegian before he regained consciousness.

Source: MaxRally

Mikkelsen sets shakedown pace + Video

Andreas Mikkelsen has gone fastest in shakedown for the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, round three of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Based on unofficial times issued just prior to the 21:30hrs finish, Mikkelsen had completed six runs of the 5.4-kilometre course close to the rally base in Armagh. He was credited with a fastest time of 3m21.9s in his ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000.

“The first run was dry but after the second run it started to rain,” said the defending IRC champion. “Because of this we were able to try different tyre compounds in different conditions in preparation for the rally. Everything was good and we were quite happy because we could see how much time we would lose running a full wet tyre on a damp road. We also tried a different rear differential set-up.”

Juho Hänninen, IRC champion in 2010, was second quickest based on the unofficial timings in his factory ŠKODA. Craig Breen was the leading Peugeot 207 runner in third overall with Jan Kopecký fourth and Alastair Fisher fifth in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. French youngster Mathieu Arzeno completed the top six.

Robert Consani was the leading IRC Production Cup and IRC 2WD Cup contender in his Renault Mégane RS.

The Circuit of Ireland Rally gets underway with the Titanic Super Special Stage in Belfast at 17:00hrs local time on Friday.

Source: irc series.com

Barrable got a bird’s eye view from inside Mikkelsen’s Fabia S2000

Robert Barrable got a bird’s eye view from inside Andreas Mikkelsen’s Fabia S2000, when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge Champion took him for a high-speed ride during his pre-Circuit of Ireland Rally test in his ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia S2000.

The Billy Coleman Award winning driver from Swords in Co. Dublin had been testing his ŠKODA Ireland Fabia S2000 on the same section of road outside Aughnacloy, and seized the opportunity to see what the action’s like from the co-driver’s seat – for the very first time.

Andreas’ has considerably more experience driving the Fabia S2000 than Robert, so it was no surprise that the young Irishman enjoyed the experience.

“I was very impressed – I can see why Andreas is IRC champion,” said Robert. “He’s just so comfortable in the car, it’s amazing to watch.

“This is the first time I’ve been a passenger in a rally car at speed like this, and it was strange being in a car that’s so similar to my own and not being in control of it. I certainly picked up a few tips, especially in the corners where Andreas is a lot more aggressive than me.

“I really enjoyed the experience and would like to thank Andreas for giving me the opportunity to sit in with him.”

Source: Circuit of Ireland

Mikkelsen takes positives from Canarias misfortune

Andreas Mikkelsen says he will use missing out on victory on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés in a dramatic final-stage showdown with Jan Kopecký earlier this month as a positive.

The ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver, the defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion, was one stage away from winning the asphalt event when a sudden loss of a power, caused by a rare mechanical failure, dropped him to second overall behind his Czech rival.

Despite missing out on victory, Mikkelsen heads the IRC drivers’ standings after two events.

“We have a first place and a second place so it’s a very good start for us in the IRC this year, because it’s a lot of points,” said the 22-year-old from Norway. “This time last year to have these points I used seven rallies or something so it’s a much better start for me this year.”

Mikkelsen returns to IRC action on round three, the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, which takes place from 6/7 April.

Source: IRC Series

Formula One driving tips boost Mikkelsen

Co-driver Ola Fløene says Andreas Mikkelsen’s speed on asphalt has improved significantly following sessions with ex-Formula One racer Alex Wurz.

The reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion is one of the fastest drivers in the sport but has yet to win a round of the IRC on Tarmac. However, he’s getting close and came within one stage of winning Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés last week until a mechanical failure forced him to settle for second place.

“Alex Wurz helped Andreas when he was in the FIA Academy Institute last year with his driving technique and it’s paying off,” said Fløene. “Before Andreas used to attack every corner like he was driving on gravel but now he’s less aggressive into the corner, braking earlier with less left-foot braking. Because of this the tyres survive longer and don’t overheat and he has more speed.”

Mikkelsen, who drives a Fabia Super 2000 for ŠKODA UK Motorsport, currently holds an 18-point advantage in the IRC standings after two rounds.

Source: IRC Series

Andreas Mikkelsen stronger on tarmac

Andreas Mikkelsen has been practising his asphalt driving skills ahead of this weekend's Rally Islas Canarias.

The defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion took on a handful of endurance races at the daunting Nurburgring circuit in Germany, which features a lap length of 20.8 kilometres.

"I'm a much stronger driver on tarmac now, so we want to be faster for sure, but we also want to finish and score points," said the ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver.

The rally's abrasive surface, which is partly constructed from volcanic lava, means grip levels are high and in the event of rain will remain constant, although tyre wear can be at a premium as a result.

Source: Eurosport Au

Mikkelsen gives IRC fan high-speed rally ride

ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen prepared for this week’s second round of the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, by giving a Facebook fan the ride of his life.

Mikkelsen is on the island of Gran Canaria testing in readiness for the all-asphalt event from 15-17 March.

He used the test to give a high-speed ride to Victor Manuel Díaz Mendoza, who won an online competition organised by the local ŠKODA importer on the island.

“We always receive a very warm welcome from the fans in Gran Canaria, and it was great to do something special with the enthusiastic local ŠKODA importer,” said Mikkelsen, the defending IRC champion. “I think the winner enjoyed himself – he certainly had a big smile on his face when he got out of the car, which is always a good sign!”

Competition organiser Elena Medina said: “We received a great number of positive posts and many greetings from our fans. It was an extremely worthwhile and valuable promotion.”

Jesús Zorio claimed the runner-up prize of ŠKODA UK Motorsport merchandise.

Source: IRC Series

Andreas Mikkelsen ready for Tarmac challenge

Andreas Mikkelsen says he can see no reason why he can’t continue his successful start to the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season when the series resumes on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés later this month.

Mikkelsen has yet to win a round of the IRC on asphalt – the surface used on round two of the 13-event campaign – but insists he has no preference for gravel over Tarmac.

“We are coming to Canarias in a couple of week’s time and the first rally on Tarmac,” said the 22-year-old ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver, who began the defence of his IRC title with victory on SATA Rallye Açores last month. “If I get a podium on the next rally I will be happy. I don’t prefer gravel any more, I prefer both.”

Mikkelsen and co-driver and fellow Norwegian Ola Fløene finished sixth overall on the Gran Canaria event last year, their first points of their title-winning IRC season.

Source: IRC series

Ola Fløene limbers up for stage success

It’s commonplace to see rally drivers limbering up whilst cars queue by stage start in-controls, flexing their muscles in preparation for the physical task ahead. With timesheets and pace notes to study – not to mention drivers to keep an eye on – it’s rare to see co-drivers doing star jumps and squat thrusts; although not so for Ola Fløene.

There is no doubting Andreas Mikkelsen’s physical fitness, but his ŠKODA UK Motorsport co-driver has been shaping up too – and Ola has even been joining Andreas in his pre-stage warm up routine, before they blast off the line in their Intercontinental Rally Challenge winning Fabia S2000. And Ola certainly thinks this helped him guide Andreas to victory on the recent Sata Rallye Açores.

“I need to be in a deep concentration to be with Andreas as we go through the stages, and I work hard with myself on the physical and mental side of the sport,” said Ola, who between rallies trains hard in the forests around his home.

“Before the start of a stage, some of the drivers do push ups and a bit of running, and I do the same. The other navigators look at me and think I’m a little bit crazy, but I do this because it helps my concentration at the right level.”

Victory in the Azores was the ŠKODA UK Motorsport dynamic duo’s record-breaking third successive IRC win, and securing the win this time around came a lot easier than it had done before.

“On the first rally we won in Scotland last year, the last two stages were not easy,” admits Ola. “Then in Cyprus, when we were leading and had to finish the rally to win the title, that was a little difficult also. But with that experience, the closing stages in the Azores felt easier. We’re not used to it, but it was easier for sure!”

Source: Andreas Mikkelsen Official Website

Jimmy McRae praises Andreas Mikkelsen

British rally legend Jimmy McRae has praised Andreas Mikkelsen, after the ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver added the season’s first Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy to his Sata Rallye Açores victory silverware.

The five times British champion, father of the much missed 1995 World Rally Champion, is part of the three-man judging panel who decide the winner of the prestigious award on each round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge – based on the speed, spectacular performance, style and never give up spirit associated with McRae. Along with Jean-Pierre Nicolas (IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager – pictured with Andreas) and Gilbert Roy (Director of Editorial and Programme Development for Eurosport Events), Andreas was the clear winner of the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy in the Azores, after scoring 10 fastest stage times (out of 13 run) and leading the opening round of the 2012 IRC from start to finish in his Fabia S2000.

“Right from when I saw him in the IRC in 2010 it was clear that he was very good,” said Jimmy McRae. “He’s got the bit between his teeth now and he’s really showing how competitive he is now. I rate him very highly.”

Followers of the IRC on Facebook agreed when they were invited to put forward their suggestions via an online poll, with Andreas receiving 61% of the public vote.

Source: Andreas Mikkelsen Official Website

Andy's on fire as he takes first win

FLAMING heck! It looks like Andreas Mikkelsen has gone for a proper burn-up as he heads for victory in the Azores Rally.

But the flames that seemed to be shooting from his Skoda Fabia were actually dramatic pyrotechnics supplied by the organisers as each car leaped over this high-speed jump.

Honorary Brit Andy Mick, the reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champ, took up where he left off at the end of 2011 by taking the win for The Sun's motorsport partners Skoda UK.

But while he proved too hot for his rivals on the IRC's first 2012 round, his triumph left three of the team's technicians frozen stiff.

Yari Mischinelli, Fabrizio Borra and Danilo Anzoino foolishly promised Mikkelsen they would leap into the North Atlantic Ocean surrounding the Azores islands if he won.

They jumped in wearing their overalls – and soon discovered the Atlantic in February is as cold as a polar bear's ice cream!

Mikkelsen, who became the IRC's youngest champion last year, led the rally from start to finish on narrow and slippery gravel roads.

But he had to fight off a constant challenge from fellow Skoda ace Juho Hanninen and only won by 25.1 seconds after 14 special stages.

Hanninen would have been closer but for a time-consuming spin on the event's signature Sete Cidades stage, which runs around the rim of an extinct volcano.

Bryan Bouffier came home third as the best-placed Peugeot star.

Another Pug driver, local hero Bruno Magalhaes, rolled out of fourth place amid heavy rain.

Delighted Mikkelsen was also awarded the prestigious Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy, named after the British rallying great, thanks to his ten fastest stage times.

He said: "It was a perfect start to the season for Skoda UK. It couldn't be better.

"We had a great fight with Juho right to the bitter end. We pushed hard all the way to the finish and I'm so happy for myself, my co-driver Ola Floene and the whole team."

Source: The Sun

Mikkelsen makes history with Açores victory

Andreas Mikkelsen has made history by becoming the first driver to win three rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in succession by claiming victory on SATA Rallye Açores today (Saturday).

The ŠKODA Motorsport ace’s winning run extends back to last year when he triumphed in Scotland and Cyprus, rounds 10 and 11 of the 2011 IRC season. His triumph on the mid-Atlantic archipelago brings his tally to three in a row.

"This is the perfect start to the season, I am so happy for the team and this is perfect result for ŠKODA,” said Mikkelsen, who headed fellow ŠKODA driver Juho Hänninen and Peugeot’s Bryan Bouffier at the end of almost 200 kilometres of thrilling action.

⇰ Andreas Mikkelsen Sata Rallye Azores 2012 Gallery

Luca Rossetti actually won the first four IRC events he contested between 2007 and 2008 to earn the nickname ‘Mr 100 Per Cent’. However, because they weren’t on consecutive rallies, Mikkelsen takes the record, having been tied on two wins in a row with Giandomenico Basso, Jan Kopecký, Freddy Loix, Kris Meeke and Rossetti.

The full list of consecutive IRC winners is as follows:

Andreas Mikkelsen: Scotland and Cyprus 2011 and Açores 2012
Giandomenico Basso: Asturias and Sanremo, 2008
Jan Kopecký: Zlín and Asturias, 2009 and Zlín and Mecsek 2011
Freddy Loix: Madeira and Zlín, 2010
Kris Meeke: Açores and Ypres, 2009
Luca Rossetti: Istanbul and Portugal, 2008

Source: IRC Series

Andreas Mikkelsen wraps up Rally Azores victory

Andreas Mikkelsen made a perfect start to his Intercontinental Rally Challenge title defence by taking a comfortable Rally Azores victory.

The Skoda UK driver led from the outset, and although factory Skoda man Juho Hanninen was right on his tail initially, Mikkelsen started stretching away even before a quick spin on Friday cost his rival some time. In the end, the gap between them was 25 seconds, as Mikkelsen took a third straight win following his Scotland and Cyprus triumphs at the end of 2011.

Bryan Bouffier's third place was secure once fellow Peugeot driver Bruno Magalhaes rolled out on Friday afternoon. The 2011 Monte Carlo winner had no answer to the leading Skodas' pace this weekend.

⇰ Andreas Mikkelsen Sata Rallye Azores 2012 Gallery

German Skoda duo Sepp Wiegand and Hermann Gassner Jr fought for fourth all weekend, with Wiegand finally breaking clear when Gassner made a mistake and sustained a puncture on the penultimate stage.

Source: Autosport

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