Mikkelsen eyes on replicating his Poland success next week

Andreas Mikkelsen is looking forward to fighting for important positions at Rally Poland next week considering the success he had there, but he knows that it will be difficult since he has never driven the Hyundai i20N Rally1 on a gravel event.

The Norwegian driver did his first outing in Poland back in 2009 with a Skoda Fabia WRC, but he was forced to retire due to an engine issue. After five years, he returned back to Rally Poland with Volkswagen Polo R where he finished second overall and replicated this result in 2015 which means that he finished at the second place of the podium for two consecutive years. In 2016, he participated in Poland with Volkswagen and claimed his second win in the championship while it was his maiden one for this event. A year later, he finished ninth on this fast gravel rally, but he was his second appearance with the Citroen C3 WRC after his having stayed out of WRC due to Volkswagen's departure from WRC at the end of 2016. The last year Mikkelsen competed at Rally Poland was in 2021 when he had signed a deal with Toksport in ERC and managed to get another top two finish there. Finally, Rally Poland will be Mikkelsen's first gravel competition with the Hyundai i20N Rally1 this year as his campaign with the Alzenau-based team is about his participation on the tarmac events of the season.

"I am very excited to be back with the team in Poland after their recent success in both Portugal and Sardinia", Mikkelsen said. 

"Rally Poland is a super-fast event with a sandy surface, so you can make the most of the ruts in a stable and fast car like ours. 

"I haven’t driven the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 competitively on gravel yet, but with two days in the car before the event I am hoping to find the right setup for the weekend there so I can be ready to take my fight to the front of the field. 

"Road position is also crucial at this event and very dependent on the weather, so it will play a major part in my weekend. 

"I am hoping to be fighting for the important positions throughout the weekend. 

"I have had two podiums and a win here and I would like to replicate these good results once again".

Photo Credits: Hyundai