Mikkelsen to make most of Zlín knowledge

Andreas Mikkelsen, who will lead the M-Sport Ford Fiesta Super 2000 challenge on Barum Czech Rally Zlín this weekend, says the experience he gained from tackling the event last season has already proved a big help.

The Norwegian, who is three events into his Intercontinental Rally Challenge programme with the British M-Sport team, made his IRC debut in Czech Republic in 2009 although his choice of car meant he was not eligible for points.

He said: “It definitely helps coming here before because you don’t waste any time working out the local area and of course there are some stages and sections I remember. You kind of know what to expect and that’s always important.”

Mikkelsen has not competed in the IRC since his impressive fourth-place finish on Sata Rallye Açores in July. Thursday’s pre-event shakedown marked the first time he’d driven his Fiesta since then.

“We did not do a test before we came here but I felt comfortable in the car after the first run and have a good feeling. If it rains I really think I can be in the top five at the finish.”