Page "Hannu Mikkola" Paragraph 6

1983 was to be Mikkola's year.

Four wins and three second places saw him and co-driver Arne Hertz finally take the World Championship title.

A second place in the championship followed in 1984, behind his team-mate Stig Blomqvist, but 1985 saw him compete in only four world rallies, with three retirements and a fourth place, and slip to 22nd in the final standings after the Audi team was overwhelmed by new Group B competition from Peugeot and Lancia.

Mikkola remained with Audi until the 1987 season, winning the Safari Rally in a Group A Audi 200 that year, before switching to Mazda.