Floene: Hanninen Acores battle was best of 2012 IRC

Intercontinental Rally Challenge title-winning navigator Ola Fløene has singled out his driver Andreas Mikkelsen’s battle with Juho Hänninen in the Açores as the highlight of his 2012 season.

Mikkelsen and Fløene edged fellow ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 crew Hänninen and Mikko Markkula in a close fight on SATA Rallye Açores, the opening round of IRC season six back in February.

“To drive against Hänninen is always special on gravel or Tarmac but when these two boys are meeting on gravel you need to have tight seatbelts, the pacenotes need to be very clean because the attack is amazing,” said Fløene. “We had a big attack, we were a little behind then a little in front and finally we were ahead at the end when we realised Juho had a small spin, so thanks to him for this! But this attack was amazing and you really needed to be inside the car to understand just how amazing it was.”

Mikkelsen and Fløene used their victory in the Açores as the springboard for their successful title defence with ŠKODA UK Motorsport. Hänninen and Markkula, IRC champions in 2010, ended the season third in the standings following a partial programme with ŠKODA’s factory team.