Andreas Mikklesen's second placing in Argentina was not only the result he had desperately been chasing, but also the one that may save his WRC career.
After a horrid run for Hyundai, Mikkelsen was dropped for the recent tarmac round in Corsica, and there was wide speculation that he could have been dropped from the team altogether if his performances had not improved.
WRC commentator, Colin Clark, even took questions on whether Hayden Paddon could replace Mikkelsen, at a dinner prior to the recent Otago Rally.
"It's very difficult, there's new management in charge of Hyundai and the guy (Andrea Adamo) can be quite ruthless," Clark said.
"I suspect that he does have to perform, particularly at the next two rallies. He had a contract to do the full season. He's already been dropped for one of those rounds, and he will probably not sit in the car for the remaining two tarmac rounds.
A brilliant second in Argentina was long overdue for Andreas Mikkelsen.Hyu
"Yeah, if he doesn't do what he's tasked with doing, which is delivering points for the team on the gravel events, then there has to be doubt over whether he'll finish the season.
"But you know, he's a very, very decent driver. Mikkelsen is a great driver. He's struggling, but all great drivers go through patches where they struggle for confidence, they struggle for results.
"That's where Andreas is at right now (prior to Argentina). It may well be he can pull himself out of that and we see him scoring points and podiums, and he keeps his seat.
"But if he doesn't, you've got two of the best drivers in the world standing on the sidelines waiting to jump in the car (Paddon and Ostberg).
"So, it's a difficult one to say what will happen, and it really is down to Andreas and what he does in the car."
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