Editing Mika Häkkinen (section)

===2006===
[[File:Mika Hakkinen 2006 DTM.jpg|thumb|right|Häkkinen driving for HWA at Brands Hatch in 2006]]
On 15 November 2005, it was announced that Häkkinen would remain with HWA for the [[2006 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season|2006 season]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Mika Häkkinen Continues in the 2006 DTM|url=http://www.dtm.com/en/News/Mika-Haekkinen-Continues-in-the-2006-DTM.html|work=DTM.com|publisher=Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters|date=15 November 2005|access-date=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006070151/http://www.dtm.com/en/News/Mika-Haekkinen-Continues-in-the-2006-DTM.html|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was partnered by Alesi, Spengler and [[Jamie Green]]. For the upcoming season, Häkkinen set his target of winning the championship, although he believed the competition from Audi would make the title challenge difficult.<ref>{{cite web|last=Redmayne|first=Tim|title=Hakkinen aims to fight for title|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/49750|work=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=27 February 2006|access-date=16 September 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006080354/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/49750|url-status=live}}</ref> Outside of DTM, Häkkinen participated in his fourth Arctic Rally, driving a [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII]] with co-driver Risto Pietiläinen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Häkkinen to contest the Arctic Lapland Rally|url=http://www.dtm.com/en/News/Haekkinen-to-contest-the-Arctic-Lapland-Rally.html|publisher=DTM.com|date=28 January 2006|access-date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031231511/http://www.dtm.com/en/News/Haekkinen-to-contest-the-Arctic-Lapland-Rally.html|archive-date=31 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He finished 36th overall.<ref>{{cite web|title=41. Arctic Lapland Rally 2006|url=http://www.ewrc-results.com/final.php?e=1346&t=Arctic-Lapland-Rally-2006|publisher=ewrc-results.com|access-date=31 October 2014|archive-date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031223059/http://www.ewrc-results.com/final.php?e=1346&t=Arctic-Lapland-Rally-2006|url-status=live}}</ref>

His season got off well: At the opening race held at Hockenheim, he finished in fourth position; and in the following race held at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, he drove to his first podium of the season with third place. Häkkinen did not score points in the next two consecutive races, although he later held another podium position with third place at the Norisring. In the next three races, he was unable to score more points, although he had another podium position at the Bugatti Circuit. Häkkinen concluded his season with a retirement at the Hockenheimring when his car's diffuser became damaged.<ref>{{cite web|last=Veltman|first=Rob|title=Bruno Spengler wins season finale|url=http://www.touringcartimes.com/2006/10/29/bruno-spengler-wins-season-finale/|work=TouringCarTimes|date=29 October 2006|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006081606/http://www.touringcartimes.com/2006/10/29/bruno-spengler-wins-season-finale/|url-status=live}}</ref> Häkkinen ended the year sixth in the Drivers' Championship, scoring 25 points.<ref name="MMagBio" />

In November, Häkkinen tested a [[McLaren MP4-21]] for one day at the [[Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya|Circuit de Catalunya]] where he completed 79 laps.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hakkinen well off the pace in McLaren test|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-racing-hakkinen-idUKSP127820061130|work=Reuters|date=30 November 2006|access-date=18 November 2014|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306120253/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-racing-hakkinen-idUKSP127820061130|url-status=dead}}</ref> To prepare himself, Häkkinen spent time at the [[McLaren Technology Centre]] to acquaint himself with Formula One's revised regulations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen to make McLaren return on Thursday|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2006/11/5361.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=Formula One Management|date=29 November 2006|access-date=18 November 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129050642/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2006/11/5361.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2017 retrospective interview Häkkinen revealed that he had been in advanced talks with McLaren for a return in the [[2007 Formula One season|2007 season]]. He had however been frustrated by problems with McLaren's car in the test, which had reminded him of the reasons why he had taken the sabbatical in the first place, so the plans had collapsed.<ref name=hsfi-retirement />