Mikkelsen tipped to shine in 2011 IRC

Andreas Mikkelsen’s navigator Ola Fløene has backed his driver to be a success in next season’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge but says the high level of competition in the series will result in a tough battle for title glory.

The Norwegians will compete in a Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 starting with the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo from 18-22 January. It will be the first time that they have contested the legendary asphalt event.

“After winning the Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally we know what to do and I see Andreas going up and up,” said Fløene. “He’s still 21 but he’s not a normal 21 because he doesn’t want to win every corner because to win a rally you can’t be afraid to slow down sometimes.

“But to win the title will be hard because there are so many good drivers in the IRC. The speed of the top five, top six is higher than in the world championship.”

Mikkelsen drove an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 on seven rounds of this year’s IRC and the non-championship Golden Stage Rally. He finished seventh in the title standings with 21 points.