Put Kris Meeke in a rally car and you’ll soon learn he has raw pace. Consistency is where Meeke struggles and, of course, he’s partial to the odd spectacular crash. Yet, after his full WRC season in a top team he has progressed enough to keep his job. And that’s good news for the WRC, because as well as pace Meeke is great to watch.
“When we chose Kris Meeke for this season, we took a bit of a gamble,” said Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal. “But he has improved with pretty much every race and has now become a complete driver.
“The real turning point was at Rally Finland. He adopted the right approach. He has managed to acquire experience throughout the season. He has shown that he not only has real pace, but that he can be more patient sometimes as well.”
Meeke’s ability to perform well on numerous surfaces impresses his bosses and helped his cause. He scored podiums in Monte-Carlo, Argentina, Finland and France.
“This first full season has been spent learning about the WRC,” explained the 35-year-old Meeke. “In the second half of the year, I was able to show part of my potential.
“There’s room for improvement, but I now have some decent foundations to build on next year, in order to keep progressing.”
Citroën Racing and Kris Meeke stay together for 2015!
2014-11-18
- After a convincing performance on his first full season in the World Rally Championship, Kris Meeke will be driving a DS3 WRC again in 2015.
- The British driver will continue to compete alongside Irish co-driver Paul Nagle.
Third in the Junior WRC with Citroën in 2005 and winner of the IRC in 2009, Kris Meeke competed in his first rallies with the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team in 2013. This season, the Brit play a major part in Citroën securing second place in the Manufacturers’ World Championship.
In 2015, Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle will therefore be joining forces in a works DS3 WRC.
“When we chose Kris Meeke for this season, we took a bit of a gamble,†recalled Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal. “But he has improved with pretty much every race and has now become a complete driver. The real turning point was at Rally Finland. He adopted the right approach. He has managed to acquire experience throughout the season. He has shown that he not only has real pace, but that he can be more patient sometimes as well. Kris is a competitive driver on all surfaces, capable of being quick on tarmac and on gravel. This versatility is a real asset for Citroën Racing. The name of the second works driver for 2015 will be announced shortly, once we have finalised the various discussions that are still ongoing.â€
Having secured podium finishes on surfaces as different as Monte-Carlo, Argentina, Finland and France, Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle also led rounds in Germany and Australia. With an identical calendar scheduled for next season, the experience they have acquired this year will help them be even more competitive in 2015.
“It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to continue to work together,†commented Kris Meeke. “Since the end of last year, Citroën Racing has given me the chance to prove my worth. This first full season has been spent learning about the WRC. In the second half of the year, I was able to show part of my potential. There’s room for improvement, but I now have some decent foundations to build on next year, in order to keep progressing. With experience, everything becomes that bit easier. I know the team well and we understand each other. I feel like I’m part of the Citroën family!â€