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Andreas Mikkelsen (31) is still aiming to return to the World Cup circus in rally. On Sunday he got his first win in four years.
Andreas Mikkelsen smiled behind his face after winning Rally Hungary this weekend. Photo: FIAERC.COM/ERC
November 20, 2016: Mikkelsen drives to victory in the World Cup round in Australia in his Volkswagen car. The victory also secures him third place in the World Cup summary.
Since then, the 31-year-old has not won a race. This despite the fact that in 2019 he finished in 4th place in the World Championship summary with his Hyundai.
So he knew well when he was able to cheer up the victory at Rally Hungary on Sunday. Even if it was “just” an EC race.
– Some years have passed since now. I’ll suck a bit with this, he tells Aftenposten on the phone from Hungary and laughs.
Lost space
In fact, the Hungary rally was the first Norwegian competition of this year. On the other hand, he did not lessen the pressure he put on himself.
– I think most people expected him to win this weekend. I expected that of myself too, he says.
After fourth place in 2019, Mikkelsen lost his place in the WC circus. That is why in 2020 he had the job of testing the new World Cup tires for Pirelli.
– It has been good to do it too, but I am a competitive person.
Andreas Mikkelsen’s last victory came during the World Cup round in Australia four years ago. Here in jubilation together with map reader Anders Jæger. Photo: Neil Blackburn / TT NEWS AGENCY
Mikkelsen does not yet have a factory. In Hungary he participated at the invitation of the Topp-Cars rally team.
– What can such a victory mean to you?
– It’s hard to say if it will have any impact on my future. Now we deliver on top of the world, and we didn’t show it the last two seasons at Hyundai in the World Cup. It has been frustrating. I felt in good shape, but I just couldn’t make it in that car.
In Hungary, Mikkelsen was driving a Skoda.
Ugly damage without obstacles
The victory came just over three months after Mikkelsen seriously fell on a dirt bike this summer and was in enormous pain. Clavicle fractures, six broken ribs and a perforated lung were found in the hospital. After a week, he was released from the hospital.
– It was the first time that I was injured and I broke something. She was special.
Andreas Mikkelsen ended up in hospital after a fall on a dirt bike this summer. There he remained for a week with fractures in various places and a punctured lung. Photo: Private
Now all the wounds have healed and they were not an obstacle in Hungary.
– It took five or six weeks before I was fully back. I’m perfectly fine now, but it was unusual to lie for six weeks in a row. I drove a rally car five weeks after the injury, he says.
Hard to go back
Mikkelsen’s goal is clear. He will return to the World Cup. – That’s what I’m trying to do, he says firmly.
But the road may be longer than he wishes. All drivers driving this season have contracts through the 2021 season. So it’s hard to believe too much that he will be back permanently before 2022.
– I just have to make sure I’m in the best possible position until the 2022 season.
However, you have the opportunity to participate in individual races.
– I can pay myself in a few rounds. To be able to show that I am there. Then I have to rent some of the other cars, he says.
Solberg in fourth place
Oliver Solberg (19) has also driven in Hungary this weekend.
The son of rally legend Petter Solberg won the final race and finished fourth a total of 2.04.8 minutes behind Mikkelsen.
