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World RX frontrunner Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen will return to Andros Trophy ice racing action this winter, driving a Mazda.The runner-up in the World Rallycross Championship – driving a Marklund Motorsport-run Volkswagen Polo RX Supercar – and 2013 Global Rallycross champion will undertake a Andros Trophy programme with the official Mazda France team.
The 2015 Andros Trophy season features seven rounds, starting at Savoie on 6-7 December, 2014. Further races will be held in Andorra, Alpe D’Huez, Lans En Vercors and Clermont Ferrand, with the Super Final at Saint Die on 7 February, 2015. But of special interest to Heikkinen will be round four at the French ski resort of Isola 2000 on 9-10 January, where the Flying Finn made his Andros Trophy debut earlier this year, finishing fourth overall in a Sainteloc-run Ford Fiesta. This year he will tackle the world-renowned series, in which nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb is also scheduled to make an appearance, in a Mazda 3 entered by Mazda France and run once more by Sainteloc, which benefits from a wealth of rally experience. Backing the programme is renowned French lubricant company Motul. Like all the Andros Trophy cars, the Mazda 3 uses spiked ice tyres, a space frame chassis and a mid-mounted turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, which puts out more than 350 horsepower within a very light bodyshell. As a result, Topi’s rallycross experience is directly relevant to the spectacular racing held at some of Europe’s best-known ski resorts. “I can’t wait to compete in the Andros Trophy once more,” said the 23-year-old Finn. “It is the perfect way to stay sharp over the winter and it will be good to race again on the sort of roads I am used to at home, which should hopefully give me an advantage. I grew up driving on ice and snow, so this championship is a lot of fun as well, where you need a very specific technique to slide the car. And of course, if you look at some of the famous names that have competed in the Andros Trophy previously, it’s a real honour to be part of it again. I’m very grateful to Mazda France for this great opportunity, as well as to my Marklund Motorsport supported by Volkswagen, for allowing me to take it up. I’m really looking forward to getting started!” Founded in 1990, the Andros Trophy is currently split into four categories: the Elite Class for the top drivers and teams, the Promotion Class for smaller teams, the Pilot Bike for motorbike racers, and the Andros Électrique for electric cars. Each race meeting consists of a practice session, two heats and a final. Heikkinen will be contesting the elite class. Last year’s Andros Trophy was won by five-time champion Jean-Philippe Dayraut (who will be among Topi’s team mates this year) with previous victors also including Formula One legend Alain Prost and 10-time winner Yvan Muller. |
