Mikkelsen: VW drive a dream

Andreas Mikkelsen has described his inclusion in Volkswagen Motorsport’s attack on Neste Oil Rally Finland as a "dream opportunity" but is under no illusions that a full-time ride with the German make will be a formality.

Mikkelsen and Finn Joonas Lindroos will pilot a brace of Skoda Fabia Super 2000s on the high-speed gravel event, round eight of the World Rally Championship, from 28-30 July. Both drivers are being assessed as potential candidates to drive VW’s Polo R World Rally Car from 2013.

“It’s a dream opportunity but I know it’s not only me they are trying out so it doesn’t mean I will make [the team] by doing this rally,” the 22-year-old told Wrc.com. “We just have to make sure we show the best of ourselves and get to the finish of the rally because this is very important for the Volkswagen team to get experience of the WRC to be ready for 2013. If I can contribute to that I will be very happy.”

Mikkelsen, who visited VW’s Stuttgart base last week, is due to complete a two-day test in Finland next week before taking part in the official WRC support championship test on the Monday prior to the event.

Asked if he is feeling any pressure, Mikkelsen said: “For sure it will be an important rally but I’ve done Finland two times and I really enjoy the rally. We will just drive as we want, we have no instruction although we know we have a job to do by finishing. We will do our best and see what happens.”

Mikkelsen won’t be lacking experience of the Fabia S2000 when he arrives in Finland: he won Rally di San Marino, a round of the Italian Gravel Trophy, earlier this month in one of the Czech machines and is currently contesting the Intercontinental Rally Challenge round in the Azores in a Fabia. He was third overall at the completion of day one.