HYUNDAI CONSIDERED REDUCING MIKKELSEN OUTINGS
German team investigated options with struggling driver
Hyundai tried to alter Andreas Mikkelsen’s contract ahead of the 2019 World Rally Championship season, investigating the chance to reduce his number of outings in the series.
Motorsport News understands Hyundai had looked at the potential for reducing Mikkelsen’s programme – a theory backed by an initial reluctance from management to confirm the 29-yearold’s precise programme in 2019.
Mikkelsen endured his toughest season in the WRC in 2018, failing to win a rally while his full-time team-mate Thierry Neuville won three times and led the drivers’ championship for seven rounds. The Belgian only lost his title bid on the final round in Australia, ending the season second while Mikkelsen was a distant sixth, 117 points behind him.
Sources inside the team have talked of frustrations building with Mikkelsen and his lack of pace.
Since returning from the final round in Coffs Harbour, there have been a series of robust meetings between Mikkelsen and the team management. An upturn in form, pace and results is expected from next month’s Monte Carlo Rally onwards.
The Norwegian said he would be ‘regrouping’ through the winter and looking to take lessons from this season.
Team manager Alain Penasse admitted more was expected from his squad’s second full-time driver in the new year.
“It’s been a tough year for Andreas,” Penasse told MN.
“And it’s clear that last year was not the one he expected or we expected overall. We have had some debriefings after the last round of the championship and we will work together to find a better way. We will see in Monte Carlo if he has taken something out of these discussions.”
Asked directly if he would be contesting all 14 rounds alongside Neuville, Penasse replied: “Yes, all 14. It was a very easy decision because we have the contract and we want to respect the contract.”
Mikkelsen told MN he had work to do, saying: “It’s very important for me to get my form back. I’m working with this team next year, so it’s important for me to get out of this bad spiral that I’m at. At every rally [we had a problem], I tried harder to make up for it on the next one. I guess I need just one good result and then I can relax again, maybe I’m thinking too much about the driving.”
Along with Sebastien Loeb, Dani Sordo was announced as a Hyundai driver for next season last week. The Spaniard will tackle the eight rallies Loeb misses, but presumably his deal could shrink if the team’s new superstar Frenchman wants more WRC action.
Sordo urged Hyundai to take the positives from the last five years and use them in 2019.
“I felt that 2018 was one of my most competitive seasons,” said Sordo. “We know that when things work in our favour we can really be strong contenders. It is important for us to learn from the difficult moments and come back stronger – that’s the aim for 2019. We have an exciting crew line-up with Sebastien coming on board. He brings an immeasurable amount of experience which will be a huge benefit to the entire team as we move forward.”
Team principal Michel Nandan will be keen to forget 2018 and look towards the new year, and starting the season with a former Monte Carlo Rally winner in his line-up.
“Ultimately, our goal is to win the WRC title,” said Nandan.
“We believe we have the package to achieve that, and our composition of crews for 2019 will perfectly reflect that ambition. We are also happy to retain the services of Dani for another year, extending a positive working relationship that dates back to 2014. With Thierry and Andreas already on the books for next season, we have an exciting mix of personalities and a complementary line-up.”