Praise for Mikkelsen from champion Hanninen

Juho Hanninen has praised Andreas Mikkelsen after the Norwegian took the fight to the defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion on Sata Rallye Acores.

Mikkelsen was a persistent threat to his fellow SKODA Fabia driver on the island event and only slipped out of contention with two stages remaining when the order was given for he and long-term leader Hanninen to keep their positions.

“Andreas and Ola [Floene] gave us a good fight all weekend,” said Finn Hanninen. “This is how rally should be when you are fighting for every tenth of a second.”

Hanninen’s co-driver Mikko Markkula said: “I have to say Andreas has got better and better and Ola also through the year. Of course the level of driving and the level of speed we do on rallies is not possible without nice pressure from behind or in front. They are doing better and better and the next round will be interesting.”