Mikkola stars in NZ historic

Hannu Mikkola was recently lured out of retirement to compete in the Dunlop Otago Classic Rally. He was partnered by former RAC Rally winner Tony Mason, who last co-drove him in the 1970s. They were aboard a full-spec Gp4 1981 BDA Escort

The two-day, 600km event near Dunedin featured special stages over gravel roads and forest tracks, and Mikkola showed his class by quickly moving into a lead he would hold until the penultimate stage.

Sadly, he slid wide on a fast downhill bend and hit a rock, breaking a rear wheel and the suspension. This dropped them to fourth, one place ahead of Björn Waldegård’s Escort; he’d hit the same rock!