Hyundai driver Andreas Mikkelsen has told DirtFish he has “no idea” what the future holds for him with the Korean manufacturer.
After four years competing in the World Rally Championship’s second tier, twice winning the WRC2 title, Mikkelsen was brought back into the Hyundai fold this season. Ostensibly the ‘asphalt specialist’, Mikkelsen was part of a rotating cast of drivers in the Alzenau-based squad’s third car.
The Norwegian has shared the seat with Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo, contesting four WRC events so far, with a fifth and final outing scheduled for next month’s Rally Japan.
He has struggled to match the frontrunning pace, particularly on asphalt, scoring three sixth-place finishes before crashing out of Central European Rally last week and returning under restart regulations.
Mikkelsen was running sixth on Czech stages before crashing
Mikkelsen revealed before the event that he had opted for a setup that might sacrifice ultimate pace in order to give him better confidence in the car. With a strong overall result out of the question after his Friday crash, he opted to test further setup changes on Saturday.
“I think we used the day quite cleverly,” he told DirtFish. “We tried some things with the car because it was quite changeable conditions today.
“Some things I like, some things I didn’t like. For sure we’re missing that last commitment in so many corners. We’re not so far away either.”
The accident damage restricted parts available for his i20 N Rally1 and meant his revised setups leant more towards the roads he’ll encounter next month.
“It’s a bit more oriented for Japan,” Mikkelsen explained, “for more twisty roads and everything; not so much for the, let’s say, tricky conditions of Central European Rally, which is very fast, where you need a very stable rear.
“Just something which I probably will like in Japan, but it’s a bit of a challenge on this event. But in the afternoon, when it was dry, it was not a big issue for me. I still enjoy to drive the car quite a lot.”
Mikkelsen feels progress was made with asphalt-spec Hyundai at CER
With a good road position and hard tires, Mikkelsen was set for a Sunday push before a puncture and hybrid problems intervened. But he bounced back to go second fastest on the powerstage, securing useful bonus points for Hyundai in the manufacturers’ race.
“There’s a lot of positive things to take from this weekend,” he insisted at the finish. “Our speed is so much better compared to Croatia.
“OK, we made a mistake. Result-wise not the best, but still I’m positive after the weekend. I’m in a much different place with the car. I feel at one with the car for the first time on Tarmac with the Hyundai.
“So in those terms, it’s been a huge step this weekend. Like yesterday, we were not too far off the pace and we were not really pushing because we were just waiting for today.
“So the feeling has completely changed compared to Croatia, for example. So in that way, I’m very happy.
“I think it’s a lot to build on from this weekend. I have a very good feeling on Tarmac with the car at the moment, so just build on that and get there. I know I can keep a good speed close to the guys. Hopefully we can fight with the guys in Japan and take one small step from here.”
Mikkelsen felt more at home in the Hyundai on gravel in Poland
After a year with long gaps between events, and only one outing on his stated preferred surface of gravel, Mikkelsen’s sounds confident of a better showing on the season finale. But whether that will be enough to convince his Hyundai bosses to offer him a 2025 drive is another question.
“I have no idea,” Mikkelsen reiterated when asked by DirtFish what he thought his chances were of staying in the Rally1 car next year. “No information from anybody. So no clue.”
He gives the impression of feeling those chances would be better if he’d had more opportunities on gravel. After all, he led on the opening day of Rally Poland – an event he has previously won – and was still running second when he suffered a puncture on the opening stage of the last day.
“I think the feeling came very quickly on the test on Poland and we were able to fight for the win there,” he considered. “Yeah, for sure I find gravel easier, especially when you’re a part-time driver, like myself, you’re not in the car very often.
“For me it’s very easy to jump straight in the car on gravel and deliver top results. On Tarmac it’s more aggressive, it takes a little bit more time to really get to know it. It’s not so forgiving, let’s say it like that.
“For sure, if it was my idea, I would love to have different rallies than what I had this year, but I got what I got. Of course, you accept the challenge and you make the most out of it.”
Mikkelsen has one more opportunity to make the most of this season, and convince Hyundai he deserves a place in the team next year.
