Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Fløene will make an appearance in the Rallye de France in October with a Skoda Fabia S2000 run by the Skoda Rally Team Italy.
The regular IRC duo will do the rally to gain experience and test themselves against the SWRC drivers.
Andreas Mikkelsen’s manager Erik Veiby said: “We have a long term plan with Andreas and this is one thing we want to do to bring him to an even higher level. Rallye de France is a new rally this year and it is important for Andreas and Ola to gain experience in this rally.”
Mikkelsen drives a Ford Fiesta S2000 in the IRC where he was fifth in the Barum Czech Rally Zlin this weekend.
His switch to Skoda in France is simple.
“Of course we would prefer to use the Ford, but the Rallye de France was not on our program and the M-Sport Team will have so many cars in the rally so they could not offer us service,” said Veiby. “We have no problem to accept that. Skoda Rally Team Italy will give us the Evo 2 version of the Skoda Fabia S2000 and we are sure that Andreas will be competitive in the rally.”
source: www.andreasmikkelsen.com
photo: www.ircseries.com
– Credit: www.rallybuzz.com