With a win already under his belt this year and one rally in hand against his rivals, Kris Meeke is fast emerging as the British driver most capable of filling the void left by legend Colin McRae at the forefront of world rallying.
Meeke, 25, from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, is competing in the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC). The McRae Motorsport driver won the WRC’s feeder series opener in Monte Carlo against the cream of young rally talent, including arch British rival Guy Wilks.
Meeke then chose the second round in Mexico as the one mandatory event on which not to score points. Instead he used the time to thoroughly test his newly homologated Team Kronos Citroën C2 Super 1600. This weekend he is back in the hot seat, aiming for his second win of the season, on the Supermag Rallye Italia (28 April – 1 May), to reclaim top spot in the JWRC.
“I feel really good about Sardinia” declares Meeke. “The testing I’ve done in the Citroën so far this year is already more time in the car than I got in the entire 2004 season; over 600 miles. Maybe it could give me that edge needed in Sardinia.”
Sardinia is a crucial event. It is Meeke’s first gravel rally of the year and with the next 3 rounds being on loose surfaces, he is aiming to be competitive. Meeke has received advice from one of the best rally drivers of all time - his mentor, 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae.
“Another good result in Sardinia will establish Kris at the top of the list of the world’s young rally drivers,” says Colin McRae. “Kris is full of confidence right now. His win in Monte Carlo showed that he is gaining in stature and with all the testing he has done over the last few weeks he will be in the best possible shape for his second JWRC outing of the season. I know he will go well in Sardinia.”
McRae has given Meeke advice on how to get the upper hand over his rivals, not just in driving terms but psychologically too. Even at this relatively early stage of the season every point scored could prove to be vital. Meeke is acutely aware of the ferocity of the competition.
“There are probably six or seven drivers who have a genuine shot at the championship,” he concludes. “That said, there is no question mark in my head that I have got what it takes to be the Junior World Rally Champion. I’m heading to Sardinia feeling good and hopeful that I will be able to notch up another maximum points score.
