Mikkelsen has returned to the FIA World Rally Championship’s top flight for the first time in five years, making his debut aboard a hybrid-powered Rally1 car with the Korean manufacturer. The three-time world rally winner repeated his Rallye Monte-Carlo sixth place in Zagreb. While hoping for a better result, he reported progress was being made.
The 34-year-old said: “I was expecting to be a bit closer to the front during Croatia, even though I knew I was going to struggle.
“I hadn’t done the rally in the last few years so it was a struggle, especially as there is so much pace note information to take in. When I don’t know the stage by heart, it is hard to have the commitment you need to fight at the front, and the speed here is very high.
“I was missing confidence in the driving, but we were going in the right direction, but I was hoping for more.”
Mikkelsen is sharing the third i20 N with Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo this season. Sordo will pilot the car at the next round in Portugal from 9 - 12 May.
Fri 26 Apr 2024
Mikkelsen making progress with Hyundai i20 N
Hyundai Motorsport driver Andreas Mikkelsen says he’s levelling his Rally1 learning curve, with more progress aboard the Norwegian-flagged i20 at last week’s Croatia Rally.
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