Tyre giant Hankook is celebrating an historic victory this week after winning the Costa Brava Rally.

BF Goodrich has dominated the winner’s podium in recent years but its drivers proved no match for Andrea Mikkelsen in the Skoda Fabia S2000 at the weekend.

The Norwegian was fourth at the end of the first day but took the lead on day two and the team’s inspired tyre choice sealed the victory.

"It was just fantastic," said Mikkelsen. "Before the last two stages, there was likely to be a little rain. Our team had people out on the stages and they reported that there was a chance that it would be dry on the penultimate stage.  As that stage was by far the longest of the two, we chose to gamble and run with soft compound cut slicks. It enabled us to secure the victory on the penultimate stage."

Mikkelson won by a margin of just 8.5 seconds in front of local expert Alberto Hevia's Fabia S2000.

“Winning Costa Brava was tremendous for everyone involved in the team,’’ said Hankook motorsports manager Mike Patterson. “Andreas was setting a good pace from start and a shrewd tyre choice in changeable conditions meant we could capitalise on the right tyre  decison and take the win.’’