Andreas Mikkelsen is ready to participate in WRC2 and fight for the title in the category if Skoda want him to do that. The Norwegian driver lost his drive after the sudden pull-out of WRC. He was hoping a private team would take the new Polo R WRC but the car did not pass homologation. Later FIA refused to let the car go through the process.
Meanwhile Mikkelsen announced he will race in Corsica with Skoda.
“The Monte Carlo Rally is a classic and they wanted to win that. It’s the same with Corsica and that’s what I’m going to try to do. I want to drive as much as I can, it’s going to help keep me warm for next season”, Andreas told Autosport.
“At the moment, Corsica is the only event we have planned with Skoda. But if they wanted me to do WRC2 then why not?”
Andreas Mikkelsen: “I’m a professional driver and I don’t think I should have to pay to drive”
He was especially disappointed by FIA’s decision to not let Polo R WRC pass homologation. Mikkelsen explained that he felt it as a punch in the face.
“I don’t know what more I could have done to get a drive this year. I was running second in the championship for virtually all of last year and I won the last rally. Basically everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. The latest decision was another punch in the face”, he said.
Andreas explained that he could find budget to run a 2016 car but it’s not really worth it.
“To be honest, I’m a professional driver and I don’t think I should have to pay to drive. I’ve done it before and I won’t do it again. It would show the sport in a really negative way if I had to do this. I don’t think I have anything to prove to anybody, it’s not so long since Australia or Monte Carlo”, he added.
Very happy to be back in the @MotorsportSkoda driver line-up in the #SkodaFabiaR5 for @TourdeCorseWRC 6-9 April ! #WRC2 #FightbackToWRC pic.twitter.com/xYekXBDt6a
— Andreas Mikkelsen (@AMikkelsenRally) 2 March 2017
