Andreas Mikkelsen says that he would like to do more gravel outings for the remaining of the season, as he feels more comfortable with the i20N on gravel than on tarmac, and to participate in Greece on September.
The Norwegian driver signed a contract with Hyundai Motorsport for this year where the team asked him to compete in the tarmac events of the season while Dani Sordo would support Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak in Portugal and in Sardinia and Esapekka Lappi would drive the third i20N in Sweden and on the gravel WRC rounds. However, Mikkelsen was chosen by Hyundai to make his first gravel appearance in Poland two weeks ago as he was the most experienced among Lappi and Sordo after his having claimed four podiums there including a win. Last but not least, it must be mentioned that EP will participate in Latvia and in Finland before WRC heads to Acropolis Rally while the next two tarmac events of the season will be held on October and on November which means that Mikkelsen has to stay out of competition for three months.
"This was one of the rallies that I asked for this year, so it’s nice to show that we can compete at the very front", Mikkelsen said about Rally Poland.
"It was important for myself, for my confidence, everything, to know that on gravel, on the car, I really gelled quickly with the car.
"I had a good feeling that we could fight.
"Let’s say that’s one of the rallies that I really enjoy and I really love, and we always had good results there.
"So, yeah, I hope that we can have a chance to do Greece.
"I would love that.
"I think a plan can always change.
"But yeah, well… I do believe I can drive fast on Tarmac as well.
"I won Rally Spain, and that’s proper Tarmac.
"But yeah, gravel comes a bit more natural.
"I have to be very, very confident in the car on Tarmac to have the feeling to really attack.
"And so far, I haven’t had that in the Hyundai.
"On gravel, it came very directly on the test already, so that came very naturally.
"But to be fast on Tarmac, you need to be 100% comfortable".
Source: DirtFish.com
Photo Credits: Hyundai
Post a Comment