Kris Meeke, driving a Team Kronos Citroën C2 Super 1600, retook the lead in the Junior World Rally Championship after a resolute three day fight with the elements and with the world’s top young rally drivers on the Supermag Rallye D’Italia in Sardinia. Meeke finished third on the third round of the JWRC and now leads the driver standings by one point with five rallies remaining. He previously led the series after winning the opening round in Monte Carlo.
Sardinia threw up the roughest and most rutted stages of any recent round of the World Rally Championship. Most of the contenders in the JWRC suffered mechanical breakdowns, punctures or accidents. Meeke went off the road late on Saturday night, dropping from the lead to 4th place. When arch rival Kosti Katajamaki retired on Sunday morning, Meeke inherited a podium place and secured the lead in the championship.
“I knew it was hard to win back places on time alone, the roads were too rough and the gaps too large. So I just hung on in the hope others might retire,” said a joyous Meeke at the finish. “To come away from this extremely hard weekend with a podium place, six points and the lead in the championship is excellent. But I am still annoyed that one small mistake cost me the win and four more points.”
The commanding performance of the McRae Motorsport driver and his Team Kronos Citroën C2 Super 1600 on their gravel debut will have his rivals concerned. The next two events are also on gravel.
“”We have shown what we can do and with more hard work from me and the team I think will continue to be competitive,” predicts Meeke, who is 25 and from County Tyrone. “The championship is a realistic prospect but it will take a lot of effort.”
Former World Rally Champion Colin McRae said of his protégé’s stirling drive: “Kris showed time and time again this weekend that he has the speed and tenacity to be fastest whether he is leading or fighting from behind. The rest of the JWRC drivers and teams should be worried about his performance over the rest of the year. Kris has what it takes to be this year’s world champion.”
