The Norwegian is the latest guest on DirtFish's weekly podcast, Stage Mode
Photography by Red Bull
Words by Luke Barry
Andreas Mikkelsen is trying to convince Škoda to rejoin the World Rally Championship’s top class in 2027 when the technical regulations are set to change.
Mikkelsen has a deep history with Škoda, winning the 2011 and ’12 Intercontinental Rally Challenge titles with it before graduating to Volkswagen’s WRC program the year after.
But the Norwegian also drove Fabias at two other points in his career – 2017, after VW suddenly pulled out, and later in 2021-23 as he attempted to (successfully) break back into the top class for a second time.
After a partial program with Hyundai in 2024, Mikkelsen has been left without a drive for 2025 and is therefore considering his options. He has long made it clear he will not pay to drive, so any opportunity would need to be with a manufacturer.
Appearing on the latest episode of the Stage Mode podcast, Mikkelsen addressed his future and admitted a tie-in with Škoda would make perfect sense if it was to commit to the next set of regulations which align closer with the current Rally2 model.
Mikkelsen's last top-class opportunity was with Hyundai last year, but his contract wasn't renewed
“Of course, I want to be back [in WRC],” Mikkelsen told DirtFish. “Being a full-time parent is very nice, but I miss being competitive. I’ve been competitive since I was five, six years old, so it’s been a little bit of time away now, but I really want to get back into it.
“I’m still very motivated and I have a lot of experience now to build or to be a part of development of new cars. So, yeah, of course I’m trying to convince them [Škoda] and let’s see.”
Pressed if working with Škoda was his number-one target, Mikkelsen said right now he has “to be clever”.
He explained: “I have to see what is the correct way forward for Andreas Mikkelsen. And I think if you look at WRC, I think realistically with my history with Škoda, I think if they were to take the step, this would be very natural to try to be a part of that since our relationship is so good and everything.
“But I’m also working trying to see what other championships, what other disciplines could I use… let’s say, everything that I learned in WRC is so transferable to, for example rally raid, Extreme E, these kind of things where you’re off-road. And I think the speed in WRC… no other category is even close. So as long as you come from WRC, you just have to adjust and learn a different discipline. I think quite quickly you will be quite successful.
“So I have to, let’s say, search every possibility there is. Of course, my heart is still in WRC and that’s where I want to be. But with only two manufacturers at the moment, it’s very difficult. I just have to see how things develop.
“I think the new regulations for 2027 is interesting. I guess we’re all just waiting for the final set of regulations to see if it’s actually interesting for new manufacturers, new tuners or someone new to step in. And then we have to see the correct way forward.”
To hear the rest of Mikkelsen’s thoughts on his future, his reflections on the Volkswagen times, his prediction for the 2025 title race, his insight into his video work (thanks to Club DirtFish questions), and how well he scores in the ‘higher or lower’ leaderboard challenge, hit play on the episode below or subscribe to Stage Mode wherever you get your podcasts.
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: Andreas Mikkelsen, Skoda, Stage Mode, WRC, WRC 2027
Publish Date August 13, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/08/0JMSaAxr-SI202311180180-780x520.jpg August 13, 2025
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