22 Nov 12

What made them famous: #11
Mikael Ericsson

Anyone who can drive a rally car quickly deserves instant hero status, but even Mikael Ericsson would be the first to admit that he was hardly a household name.

It’s not just his unique 1980s mullet and moustache that made him famous though. Instead, the Swede is the only driver in the annals of FIA World Rally Championship history to ever win two consecutive events within the same season driving two different cars.

In 1989 - the most successful season of his 40-event WRC career - Ericsson won Rally Argentina, drafted into the factory squad alongside local hero Jorge Recalde and Italian regular Alex Fiorio. He triumphantly led home a Lancia one-two-three, on an event where only 33 cars finished.

But this was strictly a one-off and for the next round, Rally Finland, he was instead called up by Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe to partner the great Ari Vatanen in a Galant VR4. Unbelievably, by the end of the event, Ericsson had become the first non-Finn to win the rally for 18 years.

Could this man do no wrong?

Sadly, that was as good as it was going to get for him. The ultimate “super sub” didn’t compete again in 1989 but managed to put together a six-event programme the following year, with a best result of third on the Safari. His final rally was the 1993 Swedish, which ended in retirement with a broken clutch.

Nonetheless, Ericsson made his mark on history: imagine the reaction now if somebody just walked in and won twice in different cars, back-to-back.

Australian Chris Atkinson has given it a good go, having competed in a Ford Fiesta, Citroen DS3 and a MINI John Cooper Works this year - but he’ll tell you just how hard it is...