The newly crowned two-time WRC2 champion is set to make his first top-level WRC start since 2019, after electing to rejoin Hyundai – the team he competed for from 2017-2019.
Mikkelsen is one of three drivers to share Hyundai’s third i20 entry this year, alongside Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo, while Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak will pilot the team’s other two entries.
However, this wasn’t the Norwegian’s only offer for 2024. Mikkelsen revealed to Autosport that he had an opportunity to join M-Sport on a full-time basis for this season.
M-Sport has since announced that it will field entries for Adrien Fourmaux and Gregoire Munster this year.
Explaining the decision, Mikkelsen said that Hyundai’s long-term vision and its recent management restructure under new boss Cyril Abiteboul played a significant role in him opting to re-join Hyundai.
Hyundai’s recent recruitment drive last year included the signing of former Williams Formula 1 and Volkswagen WRC technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison - whom Mikkelsen previously worked alongside at Volkswagen, where he scored his three WRC wins.
“I see more future here [at Hyundai]. I think Hyundai is really properly in the WRC,” Mikkelsen told Autosport.
“Ford is half in I would say, and we all know this that it is Malcolm [Wilson] and his team and he gets some budget with Ford, and it is hard to say what the future is there.
Source: Autosport