Mikkelsen: Germany the most challenging asphalt rally

Norwegian rally star Andreas Mikkelsen reckons Rallye Deutschland is 'the most challenging asphalt rally' there is.

The Volkswagen Motorsport junior driver fought his way back to claim the final point in Finland last time out, his fifth points finish with the Polo R WRC from just six starts.

Germany, however, will be a very different test this coming week, and while this will be the 24-year-old's fourth run on the Trier-based event - having contested it in 2007, 2008 and 2012, finishing seventh there twelve months ago - he is by no means complacent about the challenge ahead.

"For me, Rallye Deutschland is the most challenging asphalt rally," he confirmed. "It is the first real asphalt rally of the year, and consists of many different types of asphalt."

"There are three different kinds of special stage. On the one hand you have the military special stages, with quite aggressive concrete. Then there are the vineyards with their narrow, gravelly roads. And then you also have the roads with perfectly flat asphalt," he explained.

"Prior to the rally, though, we had a test on asphalt, at which our car was excellent. I am now really looking forward to the event," he continued.

Mikkelsen knows the team will be under added pressure however, given it is the squad's first run at home.

"It is particularly important for Volkswagen to achieve a good result at its home rally. Everyone involved will be especially focussed.

"It will be a very special event, for both the team and the drivers," he concluded.