Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Fløene will drive for Russian team, Team Uspenskiey Rally Tecnica, in the forthcoming Rally Norway WRC round. Swedish Patrik Flodin drives for the same team and won the most recent round of the Russian rally championship. 

Mikkelsen will drive the same vehicle with which Flodin won 7 of a possible 8 stages in Russia last weekend. The team arrives in Sweden this Saturday to test the car in advance of Rally Norway which starts at the Bjerkebane racecourse in Oslo on Thursday 12 February.

This year Andreas is taking part in the Norwegian Subaru Cup, a new national series which combines rally and circuit racing with all participants driving identical cars.  It was not possible for Mikkelsen to raise the required commercial budget to participate at an appropriate level in the 2009 WRC season and the Subaru Cup is proving to be a satisfactory alternative.  “It goes without saying that I’m disappointed not to be competing at WRC level.

But actually I’m thoroughly enjoying the Subaru Cup.  It’s really good fun because we have equal equipment so it’s all about the driving.  It’s challenging me in a different way and being in a totally new set-up is both refreshing and a good learning experience.”

Mikkelsen is after two rounds leading both the Norwegian Rally Championship in group N and the Subaru Cup. 

Leading the Norwegian Rally Championship Group N is noteworthy as the Subaru Cup car is less powerful than the full specification Group N cars such as those driven by Stenshorne, Brynhildsen and Bieltvedt. Mikkelsen and Fløene will compete in Rally Norway with a full spec Group N car.

Ola Fløene - who has been Andreas’s co-driver for three years - says he has never seen Andreas so motivated.  Andreas adds, “Our goal for Rally Norway is to win the PWRC class.  Why not?”