Andreas Mikkelsen

[noel157]

FocusChampion was wondering about Andreas Mikkelsen's plans for the rest of the year and rather than hi-jack the Acropolis thread thought I'd post a new thread.
Had a good chat with the Mikkelsens when the team were in Ireland for the Easter International Rally. Their 4 year plan starts when Andreas is 18yrs (if only...) in June. Steinar, his father, says he has no problem supporting his son but not for the usual "father-son" reasons. He really does believe that the boy has the talent and the skill to make a name for himself in the WRC. And the way the kid is going since June last year I can see his point. Mikklesen senior knows that it's easy enough to throw a few million €s at the sport and see his son's name in the top 12 or 15 but he also knows that money alone will not see a driver getting much further without talent.
He went on to say that breaking into the next level of the WRC will be the hardest thing to do no matter how good a car or team is. I think their Rally Portugal result in an old spec car proves alot.
As I mentioned elsewhere the team will compete in the rest of the ITC (Irish Tarmac Championship) rounds and do Neste Finland and Rally Germany later in the year. Rallys Ireland and GB will also be on the cards.
Steinar Mikklesen explained the team's strategy for the future and their reasons for wanting to compete in Ireland - every Scandinavian driver is brought up on gravel from an early age. With nearly every country road being gravel the lose surface skill is there from the first event but tarmac is often neglected simply because nearly all events are snow or gravel. The likes of Gronholm, Solberg, Hirvonen, Carlsson etc prefer snow and gravel whereas alot of mainland European drivers are happier on tarmac. The Mikklesen team want to shape Andreas' future by gaining experience on both surfaces and that's the reason they want to compete on the rest of the ITC. Their Norway and Portugal performances indicate that the gravel and snow side is coming along nicely and recent Irish results show that the tarmac side of things isn't too far behind. With a few more good runs in the ITC the young man should be capable of a decent result in Germany come August.

Would be interested in hearing what the general opinion is on Mikkelsen. As people the family seem down to earth and very friendly and approachable. As a driver I see a big future ahead of him. I was lucky enough to see Vatanen when he was starting his international career (in a MK 1, Grp 1 Ascona) and I see a lot of Ari in young Mikkelsen.
Here's video of Andreas in the Rally of the Lakes ITC round a few weeks ago when he finished 3rd (video shows his minor 30 sec off).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX50UF57hKI

[GigiGalliNo1]

good to see him in the and in a wrc car! wouldn't mind knowing which events he'll be contesting in for the rest of the year and what place did he come in Portugal? Also other rallyes and events.. :) :)

[Roy]

:up: Thanx for info!

Great idea do the Tarmac rallies and Gravel in Ireland/UK. He get experience with both.

i see a bright future for him. He is fast out the box. 3rd and 5th places this year in national rally and 10th place in WRC rally.

[MJW]

Mikkelson seems a nice guy when I met him. No doubt there is the money to back "project Andreas" but I honestly see a true talent. I refuse to name names but we all know the WRC is populated with monied journeymen at present. Two expections currently "in there" are Andreas Mikkelson and Jari Matti Latvala. Those outside and who desreve a drive are PG Andersson and Kris Meeke (on driving talent)

[Priorat]

I saw him in Rally Norway and my impression from a spectator point of view is that he was driving fast and controlling the car rather than the opposite. It seems that there is a good base.

[jonkka]

Meeke?

[Buzz Lightyear]

Meeke?

He was talking about talent? Not the money/talent combination.

So Meeke yes. Tarmac & Gravel he is fast. (Finland and Germany last year, and recent Irish Tarmac win, in a 2 year old Impreza and first time in WRC car on tarmac. Indeed pushed Sordo very very close on tarmac, and outpaced him every time on gravel).

Name another young driver that has that pace.. I believe he is every bit as talented as Latvala, but he is getting his chance.

Also a growing repuation for car-setup and testing.

PG Andersson again has some serious pace. Maybe he has his foot in the door with Suzuki...maybe not. Although Aava does seem to have the upperhand this year, and is pushing PG very close. Will be interesting to see how Aava does in the Mitsubushi.

As for Andreas.... money will get him soo far. Will someone car manufacturer ever pay him to drive a car? Dunno....

Also, as I much as dont like to mention it, Andreas has not had a big accident, something that scares the driver. It will happen. I will wait to see how he deals with that before making a judgement... but he still hasnt done anything on the WRC scene yet other than marginally out-pace Wilson et al... so the jury is out.

[306 Cosworth]

I think Mikkelsen has enough talent to go a long way, I mean he's not even 18 yet (only a couple of days older than me!) and what he has achieved already is phenomenal. At his young age, he's got alot of time in front of him to reach the top and he has the backing to do this. If he kees up his current progress, he could be at the top of the WRC sooner than we think (that's if WRC lasts against S2000!) I will be watching his future with great interest.

[Gard]

Mikkelsen is 18 today, congratulation. Finally he can drive a car on the road, legally.

[SubaruNorway]

Mikkelsen is 18 today, congratulation. Finally he can drive a car on the road, legally.

In Norway that is

[Simmi]

I wish his site would get updated a bit more it used to be really up to date. Its now on the slide as his stock is rising which is a bit strange. Anyone know what his next planned WRC outing is?

[Addicted]

Congratulations to Andreas and welcome to NORF later this summer

[ste898]

Yes there is a definate talent in Andreas!!!

[SubaruNorway]

sure if his codriver can keep up, two mistakes now.

[VFTS]

Dont believe in every rumour you hear! There are two persons in the rallycar!

[noel157]

I wish his site would get updated a bit more it used to be really up to date. Its now on the slide as his stock is rising which is a bit strange. Anyone know what his next planned WRC outing is?



His programme hasn't changed, NORF, ADAC, Rally Ireland and Rally GB + more ITC rounds, Manx next.

Sub, when was the first "mistake"? Can't remember.

[SubaruNorway]

Don't remember if it was Jim Clark when they went way out on a field ore Rally GB when the slid off the road and into a ditch

[noel157]

Don't remember if it was Jim Clark when they went way out on a field ore Rally GB when the slid off the road and into a ditch

Think Jim Clark was a time / service issue and he went OTL. But that may have been the result of an off. R-GB? Can't recall. Edit, yes think he did go off into a ditch in GB.

But the boy has big talent and I hope that talent is rewarded. Sub, how is he looked upon in Norway?

[MadCat]

On the Jim Clark there was a mechanical problem (I seem to recall) which delayed his start time on a stage, then in service the problem took longer to rectify than they first thought which meant they were outside the time limit.

I have known Andreas for about a year now (since he first came to the UK) and, as ever, he's just a level headed teenager who takes everything in his stride. I think the talent isnt questionable, its definitely there and im sure over the next four or so years that will be delivered into the results - I mean, to be in the podium positions in the ITRC isnt an easy thing to achieve!

In answer to Buzz Lightyear's query on whether or not manufacturer teams will give him a drive, he was under the Stobart wing for Wales Rally GB last year.

There is definitely more to come from Andreas then we've already seen and he's certaintly, almost without a doubt, got a bright future in the WRC

[SubaruNorway]

Sub, how is he looked upon in Norway?

His dad mentioned there was some people who are jaelous of him back in Norway, haven't seen anything myself. But he has only done one rally in Norway Rally Hadeland this winter and that was his first snow rally were he finished fift out of 9 A8 cars 2.29min behind Mads Östberg.

http://www.rally-hadeland.no/resultater_ss_tom/4?ss=7&use_template=empty

[Buzz Lightyear]

In answer to Buzz Lightyear's query on whether or not manufacturer teams will give him a drive, he was under the Stobart wing for Wales Rally GB last year.




'Manufacturer' was the give away word.

Stobarts Team dont pay drivers.. they sell WRC seats.

[noel157]

His dad mentioned there was some people who are jaelous of him back in Norway, haven't seen anything myself. But he has only done one rally in Norway Rally Hadeland this winter and that was his first snow rally were he finished fift out of 9 A8 cars 2.29min behind Mads Östberg.

http://www.rally-hadeland.no/resultater_ss_tom/4?ss=7&use_template=empty


Thanks Sub. I find Steinar Mikkelsen a very friendly person too.

[eppel]

Mikkelsen and Fløene is going to drive a Volvo 940 in Rally Grimstad in two weeks.. The surface is asphalt.

[SubaruNorway]

Confirmed, Mikkelsen will be driving the 07 foucus next year they have ordered three cars two for use in the european rounds in wrc and one for the national events in Norway
http://www.norsk-rally.com/modules/module_123/proxy.aspx?D=2&C=2&I=4779

[noel157]

Glad it's now official. Good news. And hopefully the 08 season will lead to a full programme in 09 as planned.

Sub, am I correct is reading that MC 08 will be done in the 05 Focus? Will the 07 models not be ready by then?

[Timole]

That´s great to hear.

[bennizw]

The Monte next year will be in the 05 Focus yes. We don't know why the 07 Focus won't be used on that event. The first Norwegian national round should already had been by then, but he will be using the Norway based 07 Focus built in a snow setup.

[Donney]

Good news indeed.

[SubaruNorway]

I think Monte is such a specialised event that it's no point in wrecking the good stuff on that event

[Koppomsbo]

I think Monte is such a specialised event that it's no point in wrecking the good stuff on that event

Word :)

[Roy]

I picked this thread up, because Mikkelsen is a big boy now.. he drive in wales a Focus WRC06.

"The Focus 06 is harder to drive than the 05 model but faster and more powerful," says Andreas Mikkelsen. He is not confident about the new car. The yougster must learn a lot. Let see what he can do in 2008 with this car in European rounds.
This year was the goal to drive the stages from start to finish to learn it, I hope next year he drives a little bit faster.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/157634-1/car_upgrade_for_mikkelsen.html

[SubaruNorway]

He got to ride with Grönholm for a whole day in Scotland on a test, big respect for Marcus doing something like that right infront of Rally GB http://www.norsk-rally.com/modules/module_123/proxy.aspx?D=2&C=2&I=5048

[A.F.F.]

I picked this thread up, because Mikkelsen is a big boy now.. he drive in wales a Focus WRC06.




All due respect to young Mikkelsen but it takes a little more than Focus -06 to be granted as Big Boy ;) :)