Andreas Mikkelsen will only tackle select rounds of WRC2 in 2026 – for now, at least.
The Norwegian is teaming up with Škoda for the fourth time in his career, driving a Toksport-run Fabia RS Rally2 alongside new co-driver Jørn Listerud.
His first start will be next month’s Safari Rally Kenya, but isn’t currently scheduled to complete a full seven-event season.
Mikkelsen told DirtFish: “We have only targeted some selected rounds now, and I think we have to see how things evolve and develop.
“For sure, if it was up to me, I would like to drive everything. Maybe not every rally on the calendar, but I like to be busy, have a proper program, [it] keeps me in good shape.
“But yeah we’ll do Safari, we’ll do some other events. And if that will be enough to try to challenge for the championship? As of now, no, but things can always change.”
Mikkelsen would not be drawn on how many events are currently planned. When asked, he reiterated: “I know it’s not enough budget to do the full championship, [but] that can always be worked on during the season.”
Mikkelsen's name will be back on the side of a Fabia
However the 2021 and 2023 WRC2 champion is excited to return to the World Rally Championship, having entered just three rallies in 2025 following his partial Tarmac-orientated Rally1 program with Hyundai in 2024.
“Absolutely,” he smiled. “Obviously last year was also quite nice to just, you know, I’ve been so many years on the road with the WRC and was nice to, let’s say, have kind of a breather and spend some time with my son, actually being there for his first ever birthday. So that was nice to witness.
“But I also have felt that I’ve been missing, let’s say, being competitive, that competitive edge, which I’ve done sports my whole life. So suddenly only to be at home, as a full-time dad was very nice but at the same time, I missed the action a little bit.
“I got to do some rallies with Pieter Tsjoen during last season, which was great fun, but happy to be back of course on a proper program.”
The two targets for 2026
Mikkelsen admitted “you always are looking” at competing in the top category, but there was “no real opportunity” in Rally1 for 2026. But he believes competing in Rally2 is maybe no bad considering the impending World Rally Championship’s technical regulations.
“It’s maybe a good place to be looking into the future,” he remarked.
Mikkelsen is the last driver to win WRC2 without driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
Which ties in with Mikkelsen’s two key targets for this year. He wants both to prove himself worthy of a top-class drive in 2027, but also to prove the Škoda can beat the Toyota in the Rally2 class.
“Going into these WRC2 events, I remember back in 2021 my aim was try to win every rally, every stage, you know, and in reality, that’s difficult,” he said.
“I expect that we will be fighting at the front. I hope so. And I believe that Škoda is more than capable of winning rallies even though we’ve seen a big, big increase of challengers. For example, Toyota seems really strong, the Lancia also seems very fast, so for sure the competition will be very high.
“But basically my aim is to come back in WRC2 and show that the Škoda is still the car to beat. Even though it’s been tough the last couple of seasons with Toyota being basically the fastest car – it has looked like that from the outside – but Škoda is working hard, I know, and we will also try to help develop the car in the right direction and take it to the next level again. That’s basically the aim.”
Mikkelsen drove a GR Yaris Rally2 at the end of 2025, so has experience behind the wheel of both cars.
Mikkelsen is confident the Škoda can beat the Toyota, otherwise he wouldn't have taken on this program
“Like with all these cars in the different categories, there’s pros and cons with each car,” he added. “And for sure, the Toyota was better than the Škoda in some areas, and then the Škoda was much better than the Toyota in other areas.
“And this is good feedback that I can bring to Škoda when I come back to the Škoda now. I feel that we know in which area we need to improve. And without going into very specifics, there are, like I said, pros and cons with both cars.
“But I believe that for sure we can win with the Škoda after driving the Toyota. If I wouldn’t believe that, I wouldn’t have done the program. I’m competitive enough that, you know, we enter these rallies, I want to do well and I for sure would like to try to win.”
To learn more on Mikkelsen’s program, what keeps him motivated as he returns to WRC2 for a third time after a top-class drive, his history with his new co-driver and his thoughts on Oliver Solberg’s start to 2026, join Club DirtFish to watch the full 18-minute interview below.
