Andreas Mikkelsen og Ola Fløene vant WRC2-klassen i Rally Monte Carlo. Les mer i denne engelske pressemeldingen fra Skoda.
They came, saw and won. On their return to WRC2, ŠKODA Motorsport supported Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR) and co-driver Ola Fløene (NOR) took WRC2 victory at Rallye Monte-Carlo (21-24 January 2021). Their success at the same time marked the first victory for the updated 2021 generation of the ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo. By also winning the “Power Stage”, the two Norwegians start their2021 campaign withthe maximum of 30 championship points. Driving the second ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evoof team Toksport WRT, WRC2 newcomers Marco Bulacia/Marcelo Der Ohannesian (BOL/ARG) end their
“Monte” debut on fourth position in the category.Perfect debut for the corporation between ŠKODA Motorsport and Toksport WRT, the 2020 WRC2 Team Champion. Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Fløene (ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo) dominated WRC2 during all three legs of the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship season opener. They took the category lead after the second stage, held in the Alps close to the French winter sports town of Gap. Arriving in Monaco on Saturday evening, the experienced Norwegians had extended the category lead to more than two minutes. During the first three stages of Sunday morning in the mountains above the Principality, snow and ice covered roads caught out more than one competitor. Mikkelsen opted for a safe approach and saved thetyresof his ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo for the rally ending “Power Stage”. This strategy worked perfectly. With relatively fresh rubbers, Mikkelsen/Fløene as well were a class of their own in WRC2 during the very last stage, collectingfive extra championship points.
“An absolutely amazing weekend. It’s been a long time since I had so much fun during a rally,” Mikkelsen commented. “Toksport WRT did a flawless job, the ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evoworked perfectly. The setup was great, the car very stable even in these constantly changing road conditions. We didn’t have one single big moment.“A fine fourth in WRC2 endeda more than difficult “Monte” debut for Marco Bulaciaat the wheel ofToksport WRT’s second ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo. With very limitedknowledge of driving on snow and ice,the 20 years from Boliviaand Argentinian co-driver Marcelo Der Ohannesian even posted a handfulof top three WRC2 stage times.
“When we did the pace notes before the start, I didn’t imagine the rally to be that difficult,” admitted Bulacia. “Luckily, the ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo makes live of a driver a lot easier in such challenging conditions.” Following a Rallye Monte-Carlo tradition, only the fastest 50 of the originally 79 competitors were eligible to start the last legon Sunday.With eleven ŠKODA crews amongst them, the Czech brand fielded the majority during the final day of the legendary event