IRC champion Mikkelsen takes to the track

Reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Andreas Mikkelsen tried a single-seater racing car for size during filming for an upcoming television programme, but admitted afterwards that he was unlikely to swap it for his ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.

The 23-year-old IRC title leader sampled the Van Diemen Formula Ford car at the Lydden Hill Race Circuit during a private test. He covered approximately 30 laps of the track and didn’t make a single driving error despite it being his first experience of the machine.

“This was the first time I’ve ever driven any type of formula racing car, and it was a great experience,” said the Norwegian. “It was quite difficult and really different, but the strangest part of it was not having Ola [Fløene, co-driver] sitting next to me and having someone to talk to!

“It was also strange to be able to see the tyres move when you change the direction of the steering wheel – I’ve never experienced that before.”