Wilks' successor confirmed at Skoda UK

Andreas Mikkelsen has been confirmed as Guy Wilks’ successor at Skoda UK.

Mikkelsen became the youngest points scorer in the WRC during the 2008 Swedish Rally, when he came in a superb fifth place. He is no stranger to the Fabia, however, as he competed on the Rally Alsace this year in the car and will compete in the car on this weekend’s Wales Rally GB.

“My goal is to win the championship in 2011 – no more, no less. This is a fantastic new step in my rally career, and it’s great to be in a Skoda seat with all the experience from Skoda Motorsport.”

Wilks’ signed for Peugeot UK after their star driver Kris Meeke left the team for a works MINI drive in the WRC in 2011. Wilks scored three podium finishes at the wheel of a customer spec Fabia S2000 in 2010, but broke bones in his back during the Rally d’Italia Sardegna after crashing off the road and into rocky undergrowth.

The Norwegian will get a works spec Fabia, the same as works Skoda drivers Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky.

Skoda UK’s director Robert Hazelwood is confident that the team will be transformed into a rally-winning, possibly championship-winning, team for next year.

“The combination of Andreas’s driving talent, his international rally experience, a championship-winning Fabia S2000 and our close relationship with the Skoda Motorsport factory team is a very exciting proposition. We are confident that the package we have created for 2011 will allow us to compete for victory on the IRC next year.”