Andreas Mikkelsen: Rally Sweden defeat inspiring not demoralising

The Norwegian led the Karlstad event by three seconds with just nine miles remaining, but a spin on the final test allowed his Volkswagen team-mate Sebastien Ogier to pass him.

Mikkelsen's mistake dropped him to third, behind Thierry Neuville - who had made it three drivers vying for the win on a final-stage thriller.

"It was hard to take," Mikkelsen told AUTOSPORT, "but now I am ready to go again.

"We came so close [in Sweden] and if a fight like that doesn't get you motivated then nothing will. I feel more motivated than ever right now."

Mikkelsen added that what pleased him in Sweden was his ability to maintain a frontrunning pace, having faded when fighting for victory on other rallies.

"Last year we were able to show speed some of the time," he said, "but it was a big test when we took the lead on Friday night - but we stayed there and kept fighting.

That's really important for the future; we have consistent speed now."

Ogier was quick to pay tribute to Mikkelsen, saying: "He drove a great rally in Sweden, we had to be really on the maximum all the time to beat him."

Volkswagen team principal Jost Capito said Mikkelsen had been given every encouragement to push flat-out for the win.

"I told him to go for it and said 'If you end up in snowbank, you end up in a snowbank,'" he said.

"It didn't go well for Andreas, but he is a fighter and it will go well - very well - soon."