Motorsport News

PODIUM FOR MIKKELSEN AS ŠKODA TAKES A 1-2-3

Armagh, 10 April 2012 – A fantastic drive saw ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen finish 2nd on The Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally and maintain his lead in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The reigning champion finished 44.2 seconds behind Juho Hänninen (ŠKODA Motorsport)after a breathtaking battle for victory, with Jan Kopecký taking the final podium position to complete a stunning 1-2-3 finish for ŠKODA.

Co-driven by Ola Fløene, this was Andreas’ first rally in Ireland for five years. With a compact route and all 15 stages taking place in just over 24 hours, the action was always going to be fierce over the fast, bumpy and narrow asphalt country lanes.

The two-day event started on Good Friday with a spectacular super-special stage around the Titanic Quarter in Belfast – where ŠKODA UK Motorsport Team Principal Pierfrancesco Zanchi gave Northern Ireland First Minister Mr. Peter Robinson a run around SS1 in the Fabia S2000 test car.

The cancellation of the second run through the rally’s longest stage at night (SS5) shortened Leg 1, meaning that just 0.6 seconds separated Andreas and Hänninen (the 2010 IRC champion) at the first overnight halt in Armagh – despite Andreas hitting a wooden fence on SS3.

The battle continued on Saturday, where Andreas had to drive flat-out to lessen the disadvantage of fitting soft Michelin tyres, when conditions weren’t as damp as the team anticipated. Pushing so hard had its consequences, including hitting a road-side rock when taking a crest flat-out in sixth gear sideways on SS6 and overshooting a slippery junction on SS8.

Andreas survived an even bigger moment on SS9 when his car snapped sideways five times as he fought to control the high-speed tank-slapper. Yet he was 4.8 seconds faster over the stage, reducing a nine second deficit to just 2.3 seconds after SS11.

Having driven heroically on some of the most demanding stages in the IRC, nobody expected the shortest stage of the event – a 0.8 mile (1.03km) stage around the streets of Lisburn – to decide the outcome of the result. On a wet and slippery surface, Andreas slid sideways into a straw bale, damaging the right hand side of the car, losing 40 seconds and leaving him dazed. He finished the stage 42.7 seconds behind Hänninen and although three stages remained, the battle was over.

Robert Barrable finished a strong 6th in his ŠKODA Ireland Fabia S2000.

Andreas: “Juho did a fantastic rally and made no mistakes – I bow and take my hat off to him. We had a chance to win, but we made a mistake and had to settle for second.

“What cost us the chance of victory was a left hand corner in Lisburn. It was raining and very slippery and I just lost the car and went sideways into a hay bale, and we lost a lot of time. It was quite a hard hit. I was a bit dazed, and to be honest I don’t remember so much about it. I was happy to be able to finish the last three stages, because I wasn’t feeling so good.

“The Circuit of Ireland is a rally I really wanted to win, as did the whole team, and we came so close after a good fight. It’s a shame not to win, but we scored a lot of points for finishing second and things continue to look good for the championship.”

The next round of the IRC is the Tour de Corse (11-12 May).

Circuit of Ireland – top 10 results (provisional after SS15)

1. Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (ŠKODA Fabia S2000).…1hour 58mins 21.8secs

2. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)….+44.2secs

3. Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)….+1min 39.5secs

4. Mathieu Arzeno/Renaud Jamoul (Peugeot 207 S2000)….+4mins 01.6secs

5. Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts (Peugeot 207 S2000)….+4mins 53.8secs

6. Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)….+5mins 14.5secs

7. Sepp Wiegand/Timo Gottschalk (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)….+6mins 15.9secs

8. Garry Jennings/Barry McNulty (Mitsubishi Lancer)….+8mins 27.9secs

9. Mark Donnelly/Andrew Purcell (Mitsubishi Lancer)….+9mins 11.4secs

10. Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly (Mitsubishi Lancer)….+9mins 16.0secs

Mikkelsen and Fløene confirmed for 2012

The newly-crowned Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) drivers’ champion, Andreas Mikkelsen, will defend his title in 2012 driving for ŠKODA UK Motorsport alongside co-driver Ola Fløene. The pair will once again compete in a factory-prepared Fabia S2000 and, as in 2011, the ŠKODA UK Motorsport team will be an integral points-scoring part of ŠKODA’s drive to win the IRC manufacturers’ title for a third consecutive year.

Andreas (22) led the last six rallies of the 2011 IRC (Azores, Czech Republic, Hungary, Sanremo, Scotland and Cyprus), winning the last two events and claiming the title in Cyprus. Andreas also recorded an unbeaten 38 fastest stage times on his way to becoming the youngest-ever IRC champion.

Already a respected gravel driver, Andreas’ test programme and FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy training have turned him into an equally formidable driver on asphalt.

For its third full season in the IRC, ŠKODA UK Motorsport will once again enter a latest-spec Fabia S2000 prepared by ŠKODA Motorsport, which will continue to be run on events by the highly experienced ŠKODA Rally Team Italia.

"I really want to thank ŠKODA UK for giving me the opportunity to drive for them in 2011 and I’m so happy to repay their faith in me by winning the drivers’ title." said Andreas. "The aim now is to try to become the first driver to successfully defend his IRC title.”

Robert Hazelwood, ŠKODA UK Director, said: “This has been a tremendous season, with dramatic highs and lows. The high of ŠKODA winning the drivers’ title is fantastic and does what we set out to do – to create excitement for the ŠKODA brand for our customers, our retailers and their staff, and our own staff. I applaud Andreas and Ola on their achievement and can’t wait to get started on the exciting 2012 IRC campaign.”

IRC titles are making a splash

Fantastic new adverts and billboards are already being seen by millions of motorists and newspaper readers, as we  promote our victories in the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

They show a stunning image of ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver Andreas Mikkelsen at the Cyprus Rally, where he stormed over the finish line in first place to secure the 2011 IRC drivers’ championship. They also highlight the fact that ŠKODA has retained its IRC manufacturers’ crown thanks to the all-conquering Fabia S2000.

Adverts have already been placed in The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Express, Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph and Mail on Sunday. Billboards have also gone up in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

More activities are in the pipeline with magazines and lifestyle press to make the most of ŠKODA’s IRC titles, some of which may offer readers once-in-a-lifetime co-drives with Andreas. More details will appear on Desktop once our plans are finalised.

Andreas Mikkelsen: IRC champion 2011

ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen became the youngest driver ever to win the Intercontinental Rally Challenge after a dramatic victory at the season-ending Cyprus Rally. Amid emotional scenes captured live on Eurosport, 22-year-old Andreas and co-driver Ola Fløene secured the title by just one and a half points from ŠKODA Motorsport driver Jan Kopecký.

Andreas survived a late scare on stage eight when a nail pierced his front-left tyre, but the Michelin tyre didn’t deflate. He and second-placed Kopecký then hit the same rock five miles from the end of stage nine and both picked up punctures. Luck was on the younger man’s side, however, as his rear-right flat slowed him less than the more time-consuming front-right puncture for Kopecký.

The mixed-surface stages in the mountains above Pafos provided a great challenge and a fitting finale to the IRC season – and the event quickly became a winner-takes-all spectacular when pre-race title favourite Juho Hänninen (ŠKODA Motorsport) crashed out on stage two. Andreas went on to set seven (out of 11) fastest stage times and led for all but one stage, losing his lead momentarily after a spin on stage three.

ŠKODA UK Director Robert Hazelwood added: “What an incredible end to the 2011 IRC season. I’m personally delighted for Andreas and Ola on their fantastic season, which has resulted in two wins and the IRC drivers’ title. Their championship win is richly deserved, because they’ve been getting faster and faster throughout the year and held their nerves under pressure – and nowhere more so than in Cyprus. Andreas is a very mature and quick driver, and it didn’t take him long to achieve his first major rally title. Many congratulations from everyone at ŠKODA UK.”

Cyprus Rally finishing positions

1. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) 2hrs 25mins18.5secs
2. Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +1min 40.5secs
3. Patrik Sandell/Staffan Parmander (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +2mins 54.8secs
4. Karl Kruuda/Martin Järveoja (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +4mins 33.0secs
5. Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +5mins 25.4secs
6. Matthias Kahle/Peter Göbel (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +7mins 48.9secs
7. Toshi Arai/Dale Moscatt (Subaru Impreza R4 STI) +8mins 16.2secs
8. Mark Wallenwein/Stefan Kopczyk (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +13mins 06.7secs
9. Jean-Michel Raoux/Laurent Magat (Renault Clio R3) +14mins 36.4secs
10. Doros Loucaides/Savvas Laos (Peugeot 207 S2000) +15mins 07.8secs

IRC 2011 points

Drivers’ championship
1. Andreas Mikkelsen 153.5pts
2. Jan Kopecký 152pts
3. Juho Hänninen 125pts
4. Freddy Loix 123pts
5. Thierry Neuville 115pts
6. Bryan Bouffier 110.5pts
7. Guy Wilks 47pts
8. Patrik Sandell 44pts
9. Toni Gardemeister 43pts
10. Karl Kruuda 39pts
 
Manufacturers’ championship
1. ŠKODA 362.5pts
2. Peugeot 241.5pts
3. Subaru 117pts
4. M-Sport 107pts
5. Ralliart 104pts
6. Honda 46pts
7. Proton 41pts
8. Abarth 15pts

Mikkelsen wins Italian title

ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver Andreas Mikkelsen has won the 2011 Italian Gravel Championship after finishing third on Rally Conca d’Oro in Sicily, the sixth and final round of the series.

Mikkelsen, 22, alongside co-driver Ola Fløene, completed a hugely successful season at the wheel of his ŠKODA Rally Team Italia Fabia Super 2000, which included winning three of the five events he contested and scoring 110 points.

Rally Conca d’Oro took place near Sicily’s capital Palermo, with the cars completing nine special stages totalling 100.5 competitive kilometres. Mikkelsen won the first seven stages to build a lead of 1min 34.7secs before a minor electrical problem caused him to fall back to sixth place.

Undeterred, he fought back on the final stage to finish an impressive third overall and clinch the title. His efforts also handed ŠKODA Italia the runner-up spot in the manufacturers’ standings.
Mikkelsen said of his triumph: “I’m really happy to have won the title and I’d like to thank Ola and all of the team for their fantastic support and for having made it possible.

“I’ve very much enjoyed taking part in the championship with ŠKODA Rally Team Italia this year, particularly because my IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) programme has mostly been on asphalt. The ŠKODA Fabia was perfect, enabling me to push to the limit without making mistakes.

“There’s no time to rest, though, as now we head to Cyprus for the final round of the IRC this week. It’s been tough to combine these races with the IRC programme but I really hope to have the chance to go rallying in Italy again next year.”

Norwegian Mikkelsen triumphed in the Italian series' Rally Adriatico, Rally San Marino and Azzano Rally. A clashing event forced him to miss Rally San Crispino, while a mechanical fault caused by the rough nature of the roads in Sardinia forced his retirement from the island’s Rally Costa Smeralda when he was leading.

ŠKODA wins its first FIA World Rally title with the Fabia S2000

ŠKODA has won its first ever FIA World Rally Championship. The Red Bull ŠKODA Fabia S2000 crew of Juho Hänninen (right) and Mikko Markkula secured the title by winning the last rally of this year's Super 2000 World Rally Championship (SWRC) – the RACC Rally de España (20-23 October).

The world title is a fitting climax to this year's celebrations marking 110 years of ŠKODA motorsport.

Run on a mixed surface of gravel and asphalt, the Rally de España was the longest round of this year’s WRC – with 252.59 miles (406.52kms) of competition spread over three days and 18 special stages in the Tarragona region of north-east Spain.

Hänninen drove faultlessly to finish first in the S2000 class and 10th overall to clinch the title, his first at WRC level. His experience, skill and speed paid dividends, as did the reliability of the Fabia S2000, as Hänninen had to change his strategy and drive more tactically after his main SWRC title rival, Ott Tänak (Estonia), retired on the opening day. With one eye on the title, Hänninen continued to set excellent stage times and remained focused throughout to finish 14.9 seconds ahead of Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) and be crowned SWRC champion in style in Spain.

 “This is a perfect day for all of us and an excellent achievement, one of the milestones of my career,” said Juho. “Everything worked perfectly, and although we didn't have to play it risky, we were at the head of the pack throughout this rally. I wish to thank all those who've been helping us on our way to this achievement. We have been provided with all necessary conditions and resources to be able to put in first-class performances, and the World Championship title is a sweet reward for all of us.”

Raimund Baumschlager, head of the Red Bull ŠKODA team, added: “Today is a very special day for all of us. Juho has shown his calibre by putting in a technically precise and mature performance here. Moreover, he has been the fastest driver of the season, putting in the most consistent performances of all the drivers. We are really proud of this achievement!”

Rally of Scotland video

Watch Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene storm their way to victory at the 2011 Rally of Scotland (7 to 9 October) by playing the video below.

A magnificent performance gave the ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver his maiden victory in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) and ŠKODA a hat-trick of wins at the event. At 22 years and 109 days old, Andreas also became the youngest winner ever of an IRC event.

Click here for a full report from the rally.

Note: retailers that restrict access to YouTube may not be able to play this video.

Victory in Scotland!

A magnificent performance at the Rally of Scotland has given ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver Andreas Mikkelsen his maiden victory in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) and ŠKODA a hat-trick of wins at the event. At 22 years and 109 days old, Andreas becomes the youngest winner ever of an IRC event.

With Juho Hänninen finishing second, ŠKODA Motorsport has retained its IRC Manufacturers' title, while six drivers – four of them representing ŠKODA, including Andreas – are still in contention for the drivers’ title with one round remaining.

Co-driven by Ola Fløene, Andreas held fifth position after a calculated run through Friday’s opening two stages in a dark and slippery Carron Valley.

A magnificent display on Saturday in wet weather saw the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy driver set four fastest times in five stages, to turn a 7.4-second morning deficit into a healthy 50.7-second lead by the end of the day.

Back in Stirlingshire for Sunday’s final day of competition, early morning rain had left the narrow gravel forest roads of Carron Valley, Loch Chon and High Corrie extremely muddy. With his pace reduced Andreas drove faultlessly, although it was impossible to avoid all the rocks in the middle of the road, which resulted in the leader picking up a puncture during each run through High Corrie.

Entering the two final runs at Scone Palace, near Perth, with a 30.4-second advantage, Andreas completed a memorable event without incident to secure a magnificent Rally of Scotland win by 26.4 seconds.

“What a fantastic weekend!” said an ecstatic Andreas at the finish. “We were so close to winning in Hungary and even closer in Sanremo, but we could not have found a better place to score our first IRC win than on ŠKODA UK’s home event in Scotland. The feeling is just amazing, and this result gives us something to really build on.

“I really enjoyed driving here last year, but 12 months ago it was dry and this year the conditions have been so different. The stages were wet, muddy and very tricky. I’m very proud of what the ŠKODA UK Motorsport team, Ola and myself have accomplished here.

“Crossing the finish line of the last stage in Scotland was the best feeling I’ve ever had in a rally car. I’m really happy.”

Click here for pictures of the team's celebrations at the finish line.

The final round of the 2011 IRC takes place in Cyprus from 3 to 5 November.

Rally of Scotland results

1. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)….1hr 55mins 17.2secs
2. Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +26.4secs
3. Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1min 35.3secs
4. Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts (M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000) +2mins 05.1secs
5. Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +2mins 11.7secs
6. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +3mins 10.4sec
7. Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +3mins 11.5secs
8. Alastair Fisher/Daniel Barritt (M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000) +4mins 59.9secs
9. Toshi Arai/Dale Moscatt (Subaru Impreza) +8mins 17.6secs
10. Matthias Kahle/Peter Gobel (ŠKODA Fabia S2000) +9mins 36.1secs

IRC points (after round 10)

Drivers’

1. Jan Kopecký  131pts
2. Juho Hänninen 125pts
3. Thierry Neuville 115pts
4. Andreas Mikkelsen 111.5pts
5. Bryan Bouffier 110.5pts
6. Freddy Loix 103pts
7. Guy Wilks 47pts
8. Toni Gardemeister 44pts

Manufacturers’

1. ŠKODA 316.5pts
2. Peugeot 241.5pts
3. M-Sport 107pts
4. Subaru 79pts
5. Ralliart 73pts
6. Proton 41pts

More pictures from Rally of Scotland 2011

Andreas secures his best IRC result for ŠKODA UK

ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen scored his best result so far in the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) after finishing second at the Azores Rally (14-16 July). He was pipped to the post by ŠKODA Motorsport’s Juho Hänninen, while Jan Kopecký ensured a magnificent one-two-three finish for ŠKODA by claiming the final podium spot.

Co-driven by Ola Fløene, the 22-year-old FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy driver mastered the wet and slippery gravel roads of the mid-Atlantic volcanic island to twice lead the event. He set six fastest and five second fastest stage times as he battled for victory with Hänninen.

Andreas led after SS1, before a power steering problem dropped him temporarily to third after SS3. Andreas fought back magnificently to regain the lead after SS13, as he and Hänninen established a one-minute gap over their rivals.

The deciding moment came on SS14, which at 13.63 miles was the longest stage of the event. In heavy rain and poor visibility, Andreas carefully negotiated the twisty test while Hänninen threw caution to the wind. Hänninen, the reigning IRC champion, completed the stage 13.9 seconds quicker than Andreas, turning a 2.7 second deficit into an 11.2 second lead. It was the largest margin between the pair during the entire rally, and with just three stages remaining the top two positions were confirmed.

Andreas cruised through the final two stages to ensure his fantastic performance was rewarded with second position – and his first podium finish for the ŠKODA UK Motorsport team.

The result puts Hänninen back in the lead of the IRC Drivers’ standings, moves Andreas up to sixth in the order and increases ŠKODA’s advantage at the top of the Manufacturers’ table.

“I’m really pleased with our performance, because we’ve been fast all weekend and able to challenge for victory with good pace and rhythm,” said Andreas. “I could have gone faster towards the end, but it would have meant taking risks, and finishing on the podium was more important.

"The rain made the stages very slippery and the visibility has been very poor at times. Conditions were tricky, but we had good pace notes, made very few mistakes and showed that we can challenge for rally wins.

“The ŠKODA UK Motorsport team has done a fantastic job this weekend, Ola and I have done well and it’s been a great result for ŠKODA, with three cars on the podium – and congratulations to Juho on a good win.”

The next round of the 2011 IRC is the Czech Rally Zlin (26-28 August).

Azores Rally results
1. Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)….2hrs 19mins 03.8secs
2. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)….+42.3secs
3. Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)….+1mins 46.0secs
4. Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000)….+3mins 36.2secs
5. Patrik Sandell/Staffan Parmander (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)….+4mins 33.3secs
6. Ricardo Moura/Sandro Eiró (Mitsubishi Lancer)….+6mins 07.0secs

New advert for Tour de France TV coverage

A new ŠKODA TV advert is being screened every day during coverage of this year’s Tour de France, to underline our role as the official supplier of support vehicles for the event. It also launches a new UK brand message for our cycling-related activities: “ŠKODA. For every stage of the ride.”

The exciting and fast-paced advert will be aired every day throughout the Tour de France on ITV1 and ITV4. It will be shown during the highlight programmes, between 7pm and 8pm, and in review shows on the days when there is no racing taking place.

The official Tour de France application for smartphones and the iPad is also co-branded with ŠKODA, to strengthen our associations with cycling even further.

Andreas Mikkelsen to contest Rally Finland

Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Fløene will contest the Neste Oil Rally Finland (28-30 July), round eight of the FIA World Rally Championship, in a ŠKODA Fabia S2000. The car will be run by Volkswagen Motorsport, to give the team WRC experience ahead of its own programme with the Polo R WRC in 2013.

It will also give the 22-year-old FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy driver useful practice on gravel, as he hits the middle of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season.

This year’s Rally Finland will be Andreas’ 19th WRC start. He made his WRC debut aged just 17, at the 2006 Wales Rally GB. At the same event last year, he finished first in the S-WRC category and 10th overall in a Fabia S2000. He has contested Rally Finland twice before, in 2007 and 2008.

Volkswagen Motorsport will run a second ŠKODA Fabia S2000 for 26-year-old Finn Joonas Lindroos, who will be co-driven by Pasi Kilpeläinen.

The 61st Rally Finland will be based in Jyväskylä in central Finland, 170 miles north of Helsinki. The event used to be called the ‘1000 Lakes Rally’, owing to it being held in the country’s central lakeland district. It is also known affectionately as the ‘Finnish Grand Prix’, relating to the incredibly high speeds drivers reach on the undulating forest gravel stages.

Hänninen wins Acropolis Rally with Red Bull ŠKODA

Juho Hänninen and the Red Bull ŠKODA team won the Acropolis Rally in Greece last weekend
(16-19 June), one of the most difficult events in the rallying calendar. This victory puts Juho top of the 2011 S-WRC drivers’ championship.

Although he was one of the fastest drivers right from the start, Juho was careful to avoid the mistakes and technical problems that plagued some of his opponents. He was second until stage six, keeping the gap between himself and leader Ott Tänak (Ford) reasonably small. Minor problems and a slight collision with a rock slowed the Finn a little, but when Tänak was forced to retire during stage seven, Juho increased his lead over Bernardo Sousa (also Ford) to claim victory by almost five minutes.

Juho paid tribute to his Red Bull ŠKODA team after clinching his first victory of the season, which gives him a nine-point lead in the drivers’ standings as he heads to his home event in Finland next month.

“It's been a great weekend for our team, for me and Mikko, as well as the entire championship," he said. "It's been the most difficult Acropolis Rally in history, and I wish to thank all the guys in the team. We are going to the next event in Finland, my home country, as the championship leaders – it's great!”

Head of the team Raimund Baumschlager was thrilled, too: “The whole team put in an excellent performance. We had everything under control and Juho showed how brilliant he is on gravel. It's been a great weekend for the whole team.”

Mikkelsen makes it three Škodas in top four in Ukraine

Škoda UK Motorsport driver Andreas Mikkelsen stamped his authority on this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), as he set set three fastest stage times and claimed fourth place at the Prime Yalta Rally in Ukraine. He and co-driver Ola Fløene were just 57.3 seconds behind the winner, Škoda Motorsport’s Juho Hänninen, after losing an estimated two minutes with a puncture, two spins and a crash during the three-day rally.

Their outstanding never-give-up performance, and in particular their fightback after a puncture and ingenuity in repairing the Fabia S2000 after a crash, drew many admiring glances from the watching crowds and rally journalists. It was also enough to earn them the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy, awarded by a three-man judging panel consisting of Jimmy McRae, Gilbert Roy from Eurosport and Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Motorsport Development Manager for the IRC.

It was a fantastic rally for Škoda. Victory sees Hänninen take the lead in the IRC, becoming the first driver to win seven rounds of the series, while his Škoda Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecký was third – ensuring that three Fabia S2000s finished in the top four. Škoda leads the Manufacturers’ series, while Hänninen and Kopecký are first and second in the Drivers’ standings.

It was an impressive performance by Andreas, who set seven top-three stage times during the 14-stage event. The 21-year-old dropped from fourth to eighth after a puncture on SS4, but he charged back up the leaderboard by setting the fastest time on the next stage, despite losing the brakes towards the end – a result of the puncture damaging the cooling system.

Andreas was faster over every stage when they were repeated in the afternoon, even with brake problems and a high-speed spin, to end day two back in fourth.

On day three, Andreas set fastest times on SS9 and SS11 to halve the gap to Kopecký to just 12.9 seconds. He was then enjoying a ‘perfect’ SS12 when he spun off the road three corners from the end of the stage, losing 20 seconds. Emergency repairs to the car on the following road section saw Andreas tie a tow rope around a lamp post to help pull the bodywork away from the rear right tyre.

With Kopecký 22.3 seconds ahead and just two stages remaining, the fight for third was over. But fourth was still a magnificent achievement, and Andreas’ best result in this year’s IRC.

“Performance-wise it’s been very good and the whole team has done a fantastic job,” said Andreas. “It’s also a great honour to be awarded the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy. He's a legend in rallying and definitely I figure I look up to, so I really appreciate this prize.

“We were a bit unlucky on this rally with the puncture, and when we slid off, because we were having a very good battle with Kopecký. I really feel that the whole team deserves a podium because they are doing an incredible job, so hopefully that will come soon. We definitely have the speed to be up there fighting, because our pace is really good.”

The next round of the IRC is the Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium (23-25 June).

Prime Yalta Rally (Ukraine) final positions

1. Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000)….2hr 27mins 06.6secs
2. Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000)….+11.7secs
3. Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000)….+38.7secs
4. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000)….+57.3secs
5. Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000)….+4min 00.4secs
6. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000)….+5mins 01.5secs
7. Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000)….+7mins 59.3secs
8. Karl Kruuda/Martin Järveoja (Škoda Fabia S2000)….+10mins 01.3secs
9. Patrik Sandell/Staffan Parmander (Škoda Fabia S2000)….+18mins 08.9secs
10. Jean-Michael Raoux/Laurent Magat (Renault Clio R3)….+21mins 42.9secs

IRC Drivers’ points (after round four)

1. Hänninen….58pts
2. Kopecký….55pts
3. Bouffier….49pts
4. Neuville….48pts
5. Loix….45pts
6. Wilks….35pts
7. Mikkelsen….28pts
8. Magalhaes….14pts

IRC Manufacturers’ points (after round four)

1. Skoda….146pts
2. Peugeot….134pts
3. Subaru….34pts
4. M-Sport….29pts
5. Honda….23pts
6. Ralliart….18pts

Podium places for Škoda rally drivers

Škoda rally drivers have enjoyed a great weekend (5-6 March) on both sides of the Atlantic.

Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Fløene completed an excellent two-day test in their Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 by finishing first at Corsica’s Ronde De La Giraglia. In Mexico, meanwhile, Juho Hänninen and Mikko Markkula of Red Bull Škoda finished second in the S2000 class in the opening round of the World Rally Championship. The pair thought they had clinched third after crossing the line, but Barwa Ford driver Nasser Al-Attiyah had victory taken away from him after race organisers disqualified him for a technical infringement.

The regional rally in Corsica fell in the middle of the 12-week gap between the Monte Carlo Rally and round two of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), so Škoda UK Motorsport decided to enter to carry out extra testing.

The course provided a good mix of conditions – ranging from smooth and fast asphalt to twisty, bumpy and abrasive roads – while heavy rain on the eve of the event washed stones and rocks on to mountain roads, making conditions even more difficult in places.

Andreas increased his pace gradually after starting conservatively, while the team experimented with various car set-ups throughout the rally. Andreas drove faultlessly to complete the test as planned, with the added pleasure of winning the event by almost two and a half minutes.

“The main purpose of this rally was to do some miles as part of our IRC preparations,” said Andreas. “It was really good training for us in an environment which was a proper rally, not only testing. With the stages here in Corsica repeated, we could gradually increase our speed without taking any risks, because we got to know the roads so well.

“It’s been a really good rally and I feel like we are back where we should be. It’s great to record Škoda UK Motorsport’s first victory of 2011, too!”

Mikkelsen to get early rally run at the Ronde de la Giraglia

Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Fløene are taking part in the Ronde De La Giraglia this weekend (5-6 March) on the Mediterranean island of Corsica in their Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000.

The rally is held in Bastia, on the north-east coast of the island, and has 10 stages in total, the longest being the 15.78 mile (25.4km) Minerbio-Pino test. While they are some distance from the Ajaccio region, where round three of this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) will take place, the stages offer an excellent opportunity to test on asphalt under competition conditions.

With 9 out of twelve IRC rallies on asphalt in 2011, the team will be making excellent use of the time before round two, Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Ingles (14-16 April).

Mikkelsen said: “I’ve rallied in Corsica twice before, in 2007 and 2008 in the WRC. It’s quite abrasive asphalt, so a very good place to test for Gran Canarias. I got a lot of test miles in the Fabia S2000 before the season started, so I feel comfortable in the car, and to get more competition miles on a proper rally before the next round of the IRC will be really good.”

Rally ace aiming for drivers’ ‘Top Gun’

Škoda UK Motorsport‘s Andreas Mikkelsen is one of 19 drivers fighting for a place at the inaugural FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.

This groundbreaking new project will provide a fully-funded training programme to give upcoming drivers the chance to develop the skills they need to progress their careers.

The FIA Institute has shortlisted 19 drivers who will take part in three days of tests in Melp, Austria, from 6 to 8 February. Only 10 of these will then be invited to join the academy programme.

The shortlist is made up of young drivers from all over the world and features some of the most promising talent in motor racing and rallying, including titleholders from Formula BMW Europe, the F4 Eurocup series and ADAC Formel Masters. They are joined by event winners from the Super 2000 and Junior World Rally Championships and a number of drivers with F1 testing experience.

Former F1 star and two-time Le Mans winner Alex Wurz will lead the academy alongside former World Rally Champion co-driver Robert Reid. They will evaluate the drivers’ fitness and performance, media techniques, teamwork and psychology at the selection event in Austria.

FIA Institute President Professor Sid Watkins said: “The academy programme aims to ensure that our future stars are not just quick but also have the education and attitude that you need to succeed at the very top level. Alex and Robert have done just that and their contribution is invaluable to this important project.”

After learning he’d won a place on the shortlist, Andreas told Desktop: “I’m really looking forward to joining the other drivers for the selection event. I’ll be going all-out to win a place at the full academy. Learning from motorsport legends such as Alex Wurz and Robert Reid can only boost my chances of scoring valuable points for Škoda UK Motorsport in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.”