Mikkelsen wowed after Golden Stage recce

Inaugural Cyprus Golden Stage Rally winner Andreas Mikkelsen has described the route of this year’s mixed-surface test as “really fast and really tricky”.

Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Fløene completed a reconnaissance of the 19.43-kilometre course this morning as they continue their preparations for the event, which takes place on Sunday (6 November) and carries a prize fund of 150,000 Euros.

“We recced this morning the stage, it’s fantastic, really fast and really tricky,” said the 22-year-old ŠKODA UK Motorsport driver. “It will be one hell of a show and you will need to find the balance between going as fast as you can without breaking your car. You need to be on it from the first metres.”

Mikkelsen, who claimed his maiden Intercontinental Rally Challenge victory in Scotland last month, continued: “The Golden Stage Rally is a really nice event and to have such a prize and everyone going flat out every metre to try and get it brings a lot of excitement which rallying needs. It’s a great thing to do especially here in Cyprus.”

Crews will tackle the Golden Stage twice with both runs being shown live on Eurosport. The first run is due to get underway at 12:10hrs local time.