Prodrive wants Nikara for more WRC appearances

The man who sold scrap metal to help fund his World Rally Car debut on RallyRACC-Rally de Espana earlier this month is in demand following his stunning run to fifth overall.

Jarkko Nikara created such an impression in his Prodrive-run MINI John Cooper Works WRC - which he’d only driven for 50 kilometres prior to free practice - that the British team wants the Finn for FIA World Rally Championship rounds in 2013.

“He was pretty amazing,” said Prodrive team principal Dave Wilcock. “And we would certainly like him to come back and drive for us again. It’s even more amazing to think that the only time he had in the car was 50 kilometres around our test track - hardly the ideal preparation. It would be good to give him a run of events in the car, let’s see what he could do after, perhaps, six rallies or something - making sure one of those would be his home event in Finland.”

Nikara now needs to find the backing to do more rallies next season. “It was a great rally,” said the Finn. “I had to stop and change a puncture on the first day, but apart from this, it was a great event and, of course, I want to come back and I want to do more.”