The death of a sporting legend never fails to rock the world of those who worship their deeds, and when that ‘legend’ is your own hero, it takes on greater meaning.
When I found out last Saturday morning that Hannu Mikkola had passed away, I was literally stopped in my tracks. The morning’s plans were put on hold as I gathered my thoughts and took time to work out how best to remember a rallying legend.
When Hannu Mikkola was blazing a trail across the world in the early 1980s, I was a young lad fixated by everything he did. Back then news and footage of his exploits were thin on this side of the world, but I followed as best as I could.
The Audi Quattro remains my favourite rally car of all time, and I can thank Mikkola for that.
I got to see him in action in the 1984 Rally of New Zealand when he and Stig Blomqvist drove their famous HB liveried Quattros across the North Island stages, to the delight of the fans.
Standing on the side of the road just outside Rotorua one evening, I clearly remember ice already forming on the ground as we shivered away in anticipation.
I can still hear the popping and banging of the Quattro’s 5-cylinder engine as it approached us. Mikkola had rolled earlier in the stage, but in true Finnish fashion, he carried on at breakneck speed and would eventually finish in third place.
Nearly 20 years later, my hero-worshipping of Hannu Mikkola took on even greater significance when the Otago Rally convinced the 1983 World Rally Champion to head to Dunedin as the event’s ‘star driver’.
And here was I, star struck and trembling, about to interview my greatest sporting hero.
I shouldn’t have been worried though. I’d prepared well, and as I soon got to know Mikkola the man, as opposed to Mikkola the rally driver, it was refreshing to know that he was one of the friendliest people you could ever meet.
Our one-hour chat was filled with amazing stories and plenty of laughter as Hannu recalled the greatest moments of his long and illustrious career.
With a memory as good as you could find, the (then) almost 61 year-old Finn showed why he really was one of the legends of the sport.
From his early days driving Volvos, through his period in Toyotas, winning the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally, being the world’s best Escort rally driver, and then conquering the revolutionary Audi Quattro, Mikkola kept me enthralled.
Then it was over, and it was time for him to hit the stages again – this time in an Escort RS1800.
Hannu had reached the pinnacle of his rallying career in 1983, and on that wintery day in Dunedin in 2003, I’d probably reached mine.
Social media has been awash with tributes to Mikkola over the past few days and, as is often the case, nobody has put it better than Ari Vatanen.
“A gentleman, devoted family man, respected and appreciated by everybody. He left a legacy in the rallying world. He was a true Flying Finn,” Vatanen said.
“He had a big impact on my life. He inspired me, he guided me, he took brotherly care of me even when we were competing against each other. I could always count on him.
“I’m grateful for the intense moments we shared in life. I’m honoured of being able to call Hannu as a close friend.
“We are still on the road, Hannu has arrived to the destination.”
Amen to that.
Rest in peace, Hannu. You’ll be missed like few before you.
You can read my interview with Hannu Mikkola here:
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