Finn made history behind the wheel of the Audi Quattro
Hannu Mikkola passed away at the age of 78.
The 1983 world rally champion died of cancer, according to information provided by the Lusa agency
Mikkola was the first champion with a four-wheel drive car to win the title with the Audi Quattro and ended his career with 18 rally wins, seven of which in the rally from Finland.
The Finn born on May 24, 1942 started his career at Volvo and achieved his first victory in 1966, at the Pohjala rally.
At the Worlds, Mikkola had his first great season in 1979 helping Ford win the Constructors ‘title and losing the Drivers’ title by just one point to Swede Bjorn Waldegaard.
The move to Audi turned out to be decisive for Mikkola winning two rallies in 1981 and 1982 before becoming world champion in 1983, year who won four events.
Mikkola’s last victory took place in Kenya in 1987 and the last World Cup in which he participated was in 1991 doing some tests as a guest.
“Hannu Mikkola won the World Cup in my year of birth and, even though I never met him, I’m sad about his disappearance”, wrote the world champion, Frenchman Sébastien Ogier , on Twitter.
On the same social network, Norwegian pilot Petter Solberg recalled “a legend, a true gentleman, a true champion and a good father”.
