Andreas Mikkelsen has become the youngest driver to win the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title after winning a drama-filled Cyprus Rally in his ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000.
Mikkelsen, who is 22 years and 136 days old, had to win the mixed-surface rally to claim the title in what started as a five-way battle for the crown.
Subject to final confirmation Mikkelsen becomes IRC champion for 2011 by one and a half points over Jan Kopecký.
Despite a scare when he suffered a right-rear puncture on stage nine, Mikkelsen avoided further drama to clinch the title alongside co-driver and fellow Norwegian Ola Fløene.
SS11: Mikkelsen wins stage and rally
Andreas Mikkelsen made sure of Cyprus Rally victory and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title by winning the final stage of the mixed-surface event, which was shown live on Eurosport.
Driving a ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 Mikkelsen completed the 19.15-kilometre stage 4.1s faster than outgoing IRC champion Juho Hänninen.
A suspected misfire dropped Freddy Loix to fifth behind Karl Kruuda.
Toshi Arai and Jean-Michel Raoux captured the IRC Production Cup and IRC 2WD Cup respectively.
| Pos. | Team | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 2h25m18.5s |
| 2 | Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +1m40.5s |
| 3 | Sandell Patrik / Parmander S. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2m54.8s |
| 4 | Kruuda Karl / Järveoja M. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +4m33.0s |
| 5 | Loix Freddy / Dresler Pavel | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +5m35.4s |
| 6 | Kahle Matthias / Göbel Peter | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +7m48.9s |
| 7 | Arai Toshihiro / Moscatt Dale | Subaru Impreza Sti R4 | +8m16.2s |
| 8 | Wallenwein Mark / Kopczyk Stefan | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +13m06.7s |
| 9 | Raoux J. / Magat Laurent | Renault Clio R3 | +14m36.4s |
| 10 | Loucaides Doros / Laos Savvas | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +15m07.8s |
| 11 | Timotheou C. / Laos Pambos | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +15m25.7s |
| 12 | Albertini S. / Scattolin S. | Renault Clio R3 | +16m05.7s |
| 13 | Savva Savvas / Papandreou A. | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +16m22.2s |
| 14 | Tingirides C. / Shialos P. | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +16m22.6s |
| 15 | Yiangou P. / Christofi L. | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +17m16.9s |