CONFIDENT MIKKELSEN PLOTS ROUTE BACK TO THE TOP FLIGHT
Norwegian ace says he is sharp for WRC return despite recent Hyundai nightmare
Andreas Mikkelsen has told Motorsport News that he never doubted his ability during his troubled two-year stint with the works Hyundai squad.
Although he scored a trio of podiums in 2019, his time with the Germany-based team wasn’t a high point of his career.
He was surplus to requirements when Ott Tanak was recruited from Toyota for the 2020 season, but has since found work with Pirelli as its official test driver while it gets ready to become the WRC’s single tyre supplier from 2021.
“The two years at Hyundai were a bit frustrating, both from their side and my side,” Mikkelsen told Motorsport News. “We were both hoping that we would produce better results together and I would say it was the first time in my life that
I really struggled to get used to the car. I know that all cars are different to drive and I never had problems like that before but the Hyundai was very different.
“The car is made to suit Thierry Neuville’s style, which is very straight and braking, whereas I like to trail brake more going into the corners. I had to use the handbrake so much, even on gravel – in sixth gear – I had to use it. It was very tricky, especially on Tarmac.
“Coming from Rally Germany in 2017 where I was fighting for the win on Tarmac and then three or four months later, we were last on Tarmac in Spain. It was very clear the car did not suit me on Tarmac, but we continued to work very hard with the car and my driving style to adapt, but my style is one I have belief in. It is the style of Sebastien Loeb and [Sebastien] Ogier, because
Ogier learned his style from Loeb and I took Ogier’s style throughout my time at VW.”
Mikkelsen claimed part of the problem at Hyundai Motorsport was an unwillingness to take his views on board, with this ultimately reflected in the results he returned. “After the first year at Hyundai nothing really changed,” he revealed. “I was pushing a lot for changes to the car to help my driving style and nothing happened. The second year when [team boss, Andrea] Adamo came in things started to change and the car was moving in the direction of how I liked to drive the car.
“It’s a bit frustrating that I didn’t get more time in the car after the changes were made.”
Of his Pirelli testing role, Mikkelsen said: “We will use this opportunity and fight very hard to find a way back into the WRC. I’m incredibly motivated – I’ve never been as fit as I am now. I’m ready to get back into the car.”