Mikkelsen praised for Zlín IRC heroics

Andreas Mikkelsen’s team manager Pierfrancesco Zanchi says his young driver’s performance on the opening day of Barum Czech Rally Zlín was among the best he has produced in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Mikkelsen, 22, was in second place with two stages of day one remaining, 7.3s behind leader Jan Kopecký when he suffered a rear puncture and slipped to sixth position, more than two minutes off top spot.

“His drive was one of the best of this year,” said Zanchi. “This is a very difficult rally and to be on front like he was this morning until stage eight is really a big achievement. Okay, it happened that he got a puncture, it’s rallying, and it happened to others too.”

Zanchi confirmed Mikkelsen was driving within his comfort zone when he hit trouble and not taking any undue risks. “He was very confident for the afternoon loop and it’s just a pity this happened,” said Zanchi.

Asked how he would motivate Mikkelsen for the final day of competition, Zanchi said: “This is a championship, not a race and you have to see every single position and every single point. Tomorrow is a long day, anything can happen. The four in front are fighting for big positions so he has to keep concentrated and push as much as he likes.”

Mikkelsen added: “We are very happy with our speed today. This is Jan’s home rally, he knows the roads very well and he’s definitely not slow here, so to be able to battle with him is very pleasing and I was really enjoying the fight for the rally lead. It’s very frustrating to have picked up a puncture. I haven’t a clue how it happened and it was so surprising. We didn’t hit anything, the puncture just came from nowhere, and with so much of the stage still to go we had no choice but to stop and change it.

“But okay, we are now 18 seconds behind fifth place Thierry Neuville and we’ll certainly try to catch him tomorrow. Without others ahead having problems, to climb further up than that will be difficult.”