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

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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

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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

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WRC Rally Argentina: Mikkelsen on the up

Hans Christian Andersen was Danish – but Andreas Mikkelsen from Norway still believes in fairy tales, because so far his life has been written like one.

Having won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge against all the odds in a Skoda last year, he caught the attention of Volkswagen – competing with a Skoda team this year in the World Rally Championship as they prepare the new Polo R WRC.

And guess what? In the Fabia S2000 with its Wings For Life livery (Red Bull’s official charity, promoting research into spinal injury and rehabilitation) Mikkelsen is currently beating the established superstar Sebastien Ogier in the Rally Argentina: Volkswagen’s number one driver.

At first glance, it seems that Mikkelsen has everything. He was at the front of the queue when good looks were handed out and as soon as he passed his driving test aged 17 he was competing on rallies in Great Britain with a cutting-edge World Rally Car. He is still the youngest competitor ever to have scored points in the World Rally Championship, thanks to fifth place on the 2008 Rally Sweden.

When he moved to the IRC and won in Scotland three years later, Mikkelsen also became the youngest competitor ever to clinch an IRC round – aged just 22 years and four months. He also won the Italian Gravel Championship for good measure last year. So he’s clearly been listening to the advice from his coach and mentor, two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm.

But anybody who thinks that Mikkelsen has always had it easy needs to think again. At the end of the 2008 season his funding dried up, leaving a desperate Mikkelsen to rebuild his career all on his own. He admits that these were dark times. It would have been so easy to give up, walk away and find a more comfortable way of earning a living.

But instead he returned to Norway, living in a small flat in Oslo with his grandmother, and continued to chase his dream by calling and pestering anybody who might be able to help.

And that was the start of the story with Volkswagen Motorsport and Wings For Life. He already put in a mightily impressive showing at the Rally Sweden this year with the fledgling team, heading Ogier for much of the rally before eventually finishing 13th, just two places behind him.

Now, in their second encounter, it’s once again Mikkelsen showing his experienced team mate the way throughout one of the toughest rallies of the year. Anyone wondering who’s going to get the coveted number two seat at Volkswagen would be well-advised not to look much further.

Source: RedBull.com

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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

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Ogier Claims Class Win in Sweden, Mikkelsen finishes in 2nd place

The Volkswagen factory team successfully concluded their snow and ice test outing on Rally Sweden, round two of the FIA World Rally Championship 2012, with a class victory.

The VW team collected valuable experience for the future rallies with the Polo R WRC.

Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia (F/F) took class victory with their Škoda Fabia, their team mates Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene (N/N) clinched third place. With more than 200,000 spectators looking on they regularly left more powerful WRC cars trailing in their wake on the way to eleventh and 14th in the overall standings.

"The Rally Sweden is one of the real highlights of the World Championship season since it is only here that spiked tyres are used on snow and ice throughout the entire event. The character is unique and it was equally important for our team to collect experience in order to be as well prepared as possible next year with the Polo R WRC,” explained Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.

"Sébastien Ogier and Andreas Mikkelsen effectively controlled the Super 2000 class and were not only fast in the process, but also drove very reliably and within their limits – our two Fabias ran without problems, so many thanks to our team also for the excellent work.”

The Rally Sweden, which consisted of over 350 kilometres run against the clock on 24 special stages in the Swedish province Värmlands Län and in neighbouring Norway, provided spectators with rallying in its most spectacular form. The high speeds, long drifts and big jumps on the icy tracks set the hearts racing of the many rally fans lining the stages. Compact special stages close to the service park in Hagfors and head-to-head duels around the floodlit horse racing course in the start and finish area in Karlstad also inspired the spectators.

The two Fabias of group brand Škoda fielded by Volkswagen Motorsport numbered among the crowd’s favourites from the very beginning. Sébastien Ogier took the S2000 class lead on the opening stage. With eight top-ten results and much to the enjoyment of the many fans he repeatedly moved into the leading group of the more powerful WRC.

"That was a very good rally for us. I’m very happy with our class win. The conditions on the stages were better than expected and it was great fun to drive here. Our pace was very good and because our team mates were also very fast the rally was interesting and informative for the entire team. After all is said and done and it was also the first rally on snow and ice with spiked tyres for our team,” said the 28-year old Frenchman. Not even a puncture on the twelfth stage or changing the fuel filter after the 18th stage could slow Ogier/Ingrassia.

The 22-year old current Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) Champion Andreas Mikkelsen enjoyed the stages through his homeland Norway on Friday was able to match his team mate’s pace throughout, before losing valuable time and a near certain second position in the class after suffering a puncture on the 22nd special stage.

"My second rally with Volkswagen was a very, very good experience – it was obviously a great shame to lose second place within sight of the finish. Our first event together last year was the first WRC rally for the team. It was great to see just how much the team has developed since then. The teamwork is fabulous,” said the Škoda UK driver who, together with co-driver Ola Fløene, contests selected rounds of the WRC for Volkswagen this year and otherwise aims to defend his IRC title.

"When compared with the IRC events you must change your approach a little in the WRC. The rallies are longer, but at the same time you have fewer opportunities during the service breaks. You can’t drive so uncompromisingly, but want to be just as fast.”

Click here to see all photos of the WRC Rally Sweden 2012

***
Proton and PG Andersson penalised by stewards. New result list!
S2000 Total:
1) Ogier
2) MIKKELSEN +2:43.5
3) Andersson +4:13.5

Source: World Rally Sport

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Mikkelsen grateful for learning opportunity

Norway's Andreas Mikkelsen says he is not sure how often he will get to drive the Volkswagen Motorsport Skoda Fabia S2000 this year - but that it is one of the best opportunities for learning that he has ever experienced.

Volkswagen has committed to running Mikkelsen in a second car alongside lead driver Sebastien Ogier for a number of events this year, but it is not known how many. Mikkelsen will share the second seat with Kevin Abbring, and possibly some other drivers, as Volkswagen evaluates its driver line-up for the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship.

After Abbring drove the car in Monte Carlo, Mikkelsen is making the most of the opportunity in Sweden. He ends the second day 12th overall, with Ogier only just in front of him.

“It’s a fantastic experience being here in a factory team like Volkswagen: it’s a huge organisation and you learn so much from it,” said the 22-year-old. “It’s been great working with Sebastien Ogier too: he has been absolutely fantastic with me and we have a very good relationship.

"I don’t know what the future holds for me with Volkswagen, but I just want to make the most of the chance that I have now.”

Mikkelsen already has plenty of experience of the Skoda Fabia S2000 through his contract with Skoda UK. He previously drove for Volkswagen on Rally Finland last year.

Source: WRC.com

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Mikkelsen vs Ogier - Battle of the Volkswagen drivers

As team leader for Volkswagen Motorsport, Sebastien Ogier isn’t exactly used to being beaten by his team mate - not when it comes to stage times at least.

But this time it looks like Ogier might just have a worthy rival in Andreas Mikkelsen, who has been given the drive in the second Volkswagen Motorsport Skoda Fabia S2000 on selected gravel events this year.

So far Mikkelsen has beaten Ogier five-four over the first nine stages and although Ogier moved back ahead to take 11th overall on SS9, they are just 7.6s apart.

“It’s been a good start to this rally, but there are a few things still to come,” said the 22-year-old Norwegian, who normally drives a Fabia S2000 for the Skoda UK team. “I’m already used to the car and I love driving on snow, so it hasn’t taken me a long time to adapt.”

Mikkelsen became the youngest driver ever to score world championship points when he finished fifth on Rally Sweden in 2008.

Source: WRC.com

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New challenge for Volkswagen at Rally Sweden

After the successful start in glamorous Monte-Carlo the Volkswagen Motorsport squad is now setting its sights on the second round of the season from February 9th to 12th. This time the FIA World Rally Championship stops in the winter woods of Sweden. At the only snow rally on the calendar Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) will be joined by Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) who will be competing for the Volkswagen factory team for the first time this season.

“At the season opener in Monte Carlo both drivers, Sébastien Ogier and our junior driver Kevin Abbring, showed strong performances. In Sweden Andreas Mikkelsen will take the wheel of the Junior car as planned,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “Sweden is a special rally: It’s the only WRC event on ice and snow and provides the best opportunity to gather valuable experiences in crisp cold. It’s an important run for us in preparation for our WRC entry with the Polo R WRC.”

Snow instead of gravel: drivers are looking forward to the winter spectacle

24 special stages across about 349 timed kilometres – and unusual challenges – are awaiting the drivers. Whereas the other events on the WRC calendar are held on tarmac or gravel the Rally Sweden due to the winter conditions and the use of studded tyres is a special event. “I really like the Rally Sweden. Because of its unique character it’s important to finish in order to give the team the opportunity to thoroughly get to know this rally,” says Sébastien Ogier (28). “In Sweden the Nordic drivers are always particularly strong because they have more experience with the conditions that exist there. But we’re well prepared.” The accident that meant an early end of the “Monte” has long been chalked up to experience. “Julien and I both are totally fit,” says the Frenchman. In 2011 Ogier/Ingrassia finished the Rally Sweden in fourth place – behind three Scandinavian teams.

The Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen will be the second driver running alongside Ogier. For the 22-year-old and his seasoned co-driver Ola Fløene (42) this will be the second commitment for Volkswagen following the Finland Rally last year. “The Sweden Rally is almost a home round for me as part of the route leads through Norway. I’m hoping that many fans will support me. Thanks to my victory in the snow at the season opener of the Norwegian Championship I’m perfectly prepared. Running in the same team with ‘Seb’ is a special treat for me: He’s currently one of the quickest, if not to say the quickest rally driver of all. I’m looking forward to it and am hoping to be able to learn from him.”

Mikkelsen is the current IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) champion. As a member of the Junior programme, the Škoda UK racer is sharing the second rally car fielded by Volkswagen Motorsport in the World Rally Championship with the Dutchman Kevin Abbring.

Volkswagen is running at WRC rounds this season with two Fabia S2000 cars of the Group’s Škoda brand in the smaller SWRC class. The commitments serve as preparation for the 2013 season in which Volkswagen will compete in the top group of rally racing with the Polo R WRC. Basically speaking, Sweden is not new territory in Volkswagen’s long motorsport tradition. In the nineteen-eighties Kalle Grundel and Kenneth Eriksson in the Golf clinched several top-ten results at this rally.

Source: Race-Dezert.Com

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PHOTO: Andreas Mikkelsen at the Rallye Monte Carlo 2012

Photo: @bestofrallylive

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Volkswagen to run Kevin Abbring and Andreas Mikkelsen in WRC this year

Volkswagen Motorsport has confirmed that it will run Kevin Abbring and Andreas Mikkelsen as official junior drivers in this year's World Rally Championship.

The pair, who were both part of last year's inaugural FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy, will alternate drives in the sister Skoda Fabia S2000 to VW team leader Sebastien Ogier.

Abbring will drive the car on next week's Monte Carlo Rally, while reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Mikkelsen gets his first outing of the season on round two, Rally Sweden, in February.

Discussing the Valence and Monaco-based event next week, 22-year-old Dutchman Abbring said: "Sebastien Ogier and [his co-driver] Julien Ingrassia are fantastic driver colleagues. Sebastien is currently one of the world's best three rally racers. It's a great honour for me to be in the same team with him and to compete in the same car."

In addition to his VW commitments, Mikkelsen will make a full defence of his IRC title as the Norwegian hopes to become the first driver to take back-to-back crowns.

VW has been tipped to contest all rounds of this year's WRC with its Skodas while at the same time developing the Polo R WRC. Neither of the cars have been registered for the Super 2000 World Rally Championship.

Source: Autosport

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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.

Ogier, 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."

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Andreas Mikkelsen signs for VW Group

Andreas Mikkelsen has signed for Volkswagen Group United Kingdom according to his team manager. He will compete the IRC and whole SWRC with a Skoda Fabia S2000 next year, as well as start the testing of the PoloWRC and potentially then becoming an official VW driver in 2013.

Well, Andreas did a really great job on second half this season and deserves this chance. Hopefully we'll see him doing another fantastic season again in 2012.

I can't wait for 2012 ...\o/\o/ Keep pushing Andy!

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