LORD of the RINGS

WE RIDE SHOTGUN WITH WORLD RALLY CHAMPION HANNU MIKKOLA IN THE ALL-CONQUERING AUDI QUATTRO A2

- GLEN WADDINGTON

'JUST LIKE PUTTING on old gloves,” says Hannu Mikkola, 1983 World Rally Champion, and winner of the 1983 Marlboro Rally Argentina. He says so in response to my question: “What’s it like to get back behind the wheel?” And it’s good to know, as I’m strapped in next to him in the Group B Audi quattro A2, held captive by a four-point harness, in the position (though not the shoes) once filled by Mikkola’s redoubtable co-driver of 13 years, Arne Hertz.

We’re at the top of a closed-road stage outside San Carlos de Bariloche in Patagonia, scene of the Argentine rally for 1983, and that year only. Mikkola’s holding the revs at the point where the noise becomes thick and constant, not the pop-pop-spit-brrraapp of an idling rally-tuned engine that still pumps out 260kW or so from five turbocharged cylinders, even though that turbo has had its wick trimmed in the name of longevity. I peer out from under the brim of my helmet as the marshal, borrowed from the organisers of top Argentine classic rally 1000 Millas Sport, signals that it’s time to set off. It’s the point of no return, but who’d be nervous with this guy behind the wheel?

He selects first gear and we pull away with surprising gentleness. I know this is a demonstration run, not the real thing, but he’d promised 80 per cent and, well, for a second or so, I begin to wonder. Then baddda-da-da-dada-BLAMM, the tachometer finds 5000rpm then spins straight to 7000, 8000, Mikkola snatches second and we’re back at 5000rpm momentarily, only for the fun to start again. Third, fourth, then top gear arrives before the first corner, but only just, and that corner didn’t look far away to start with. Oh. My. God. This is serious.