Why Todt’s FIA successor could be cut from the same cloth

Hannu Mikkola’s death in February, at the age of 78, has caused the world of motorsport to reflect on a golden age of rallying, when marshals’ whistles would be followed by the deep ululation of an Audi Quattro bursting over a crest. Long before Flying Finns graced Formula 1, rallying was in thrall to the talents of a Mikkola, Ari Vatanen, Markku Alen or Henri Toivonen.

FIA President Jean Todt was one of those to post a tribute, noting that the weekend of Mikkola’s passing coincided with the Arctic Rally Finland. Forty-six years ago, Todt was co-driver for Mikkola on the original Arctic, the pair sharing a Fiat 124 Abarth. Later that year they would win the Rallye du Maroc in a Peugeot 504 Ti.