Mikkelsen thanks Fløene for podium form

Andreas Mikkelsen believes his mid-season reunion with co-driver Ola Fløene has been crucial to his recent run of WRC podiums with Volkswagen.

Second place in France last weekend was Mikkelsen’s fifth podium of the season and his fourth alongside Fløene (above) who only joined the team at June’s Rally Italia.

Fløene was Mikkelsen’s first co-driver when he started rallying in 2006, and the duo enjoyed considerable success together until 2013, when Mikkelsen replaced him with Mikko Markkula for his first season in the Polo R.

Earlier this year however Mikkelsen drafted Fløene back into the co-driver’s seat after parting from Markkula citing ’personal differences’.

“Ola and me know other really well, we know our strengths and weaknesses, and we support and motivate each other in the correct way.” Mikkelsen told wrc.com.

“We work together well as a team – and that’s the way a co-driver and driver relationship should be. It isn’t that Ola brought anything new, but he has really stepped up and done a great job. I would never have been able to get these results without him for sure. It’s an honour to have him in the car.”

Mikkelsen is close to achieving his goal of third in the drivers’ championship and is 50 points clear of his closest rival Mikko Hirvonen.

Should he still hold an advantage of at least 28 points after the upcoming Rally Spain (23-26 October), he will secure the position.