Andreas Mikkelsen, one of five drivers contesting the Cyprus Rally in contention for the coveted Intercontinental Rally Challenge title, says he won’t hold back when the mixed surface event gets underway in Pafos on Thursday evening.
Mikkelsen, currently fourth in the IRC drivers’ standings, 19.5 points behind title leader Jan Kopecký who will compete at the wheel of a similar ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.
“Our win in Scotland has really helped our position in the drivers’ championship, closed up the points and given us a chance of winning the title on the final round,” said Mikkelsen. “To do that we have to win in Cyprus, so we have nothing to lose and we’re going all out to win.”
Mikkelsen was in action when Cyprus first hosted a round of the IRC in 2010.
He said: “I did the Cyprus Rally for the first time last year. Even though it was based in Limassol and the stages were in a different area, the characteristics of this year’s stages near Pafos are the same. There was a mix of gravel and asphalt on the stages last year as well, so I know what to expect in terms of level of grip and things like that, so that experience will come in useful.”
The 22-year-old from Norway will arrive in Cyprus full of confidence after he clinched the Italian Trofeo Rally Terra title on Rally Conca D’Oro in Sicily last weekend.
Mikkelsen can win the IRC crown by claiming victory and hoping defending champion Juho Hänninen finishes outside of the podium places.