Meeke enjoys new lease of life ahead of Rally Sweden
Buoyed by his Power Stage victory in Rallye Monte Carlo, Irish ace Kris Meeke can enhance his reputation at this weekend’s Rally Sweden.
The Tommi Makinen-run Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT outfit with Meeke, Estonian Ott Tanak and Finland’s Jari Matti Latvala have blistering pace and are favourites for the championship despite Sebastien Ogier marking his return to Citroen with a win in Monte Carlo.
Meeke appears to be enjoying a new lease of life since he was thrown a WRC lifeline by Makinen. He is still learning the car and also getting accustomed to new co-driver Seb Marshall.
Last year’s winner Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 WRC) was quickest on yesterday’s shakedown – two seconds ahead of Tanak, Ogier and Meeke.
Ogier could be hampered by running first on the road. Some drivers are concerned about rising temperatures and fear warmer conditions may lead to less ice and more gravel on the later stages.
Meanwhile, reigning Irish Tarmac and Forest rally champion Josh Moffett reignites his bid to win the British Rally Championship which begins tomorrow with the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally in Wales.
Concentrating on the three Irish championships last season, the Monaghan driver will dovetail a BRC bid with his ITRC title defence and a tilt at the Triton Showers National series.
He faces a strong entry led by Chilean drivers Pedro Heller and Alberto Heller along with champion Matt Edwards on-board a trio of M-Sport-run Ford Fiesta R5s.
The likes of Welshman Tom Cave (Hyundai i20 R5), Scotland’s David Bogie (Skoda Fabia R5) and Moffett’s fellow Irish drivers Marty McCormack (Skoda Fabia R5), Desi Henry (Skoda Fabia R5), and Jonny Greer (Fiesta R5) are also strong contenders.
McCormack won the opening round of the Irish forest series and could set a good pace while fellow Derry driver Henry and Millstreet co-driver Liam Moynihan have the perfect opportunity to bounce back from a disappointing outing in Galway last week where they were blighted with set-up issues.
It’s an important event for drivers dovetailing their ITRC and BRC title bids as both championships overlap in next month’s West Cork Rally.
In the Junior BRC, a strong Irish contingent features Billy Coleman Award winner James Wilson, William Creighton, Josh McErlean, Jordan Hone and Marty Gallagher all in Peugeot 208R2’s with the exception of Hone (Opel Adam). The first car away for the day’s 10 stages leaves at 8am.
Elsewhere, Waterford’s Andrew Purcell (Ford Fiesta R5) heads the entry for tomorrow’s popular Fivemiletown Rally in Tyrone that is underpinned by Samsonas Motorsport Transmissions and returns after a two-year absence.
Opposition on the eight-stage event is provided by the Northern Ireland trio of Cathan McCourt (Ford Fiesta R5), Martin Cairns (Ford Fiesta WRC), and Conor McCourt (Ford Fiesta R5).
Monaghan’s Michael Carbin (Mitsubishi) is next off the start at Eskra. Local ace Shane McGirr (Toyota Starlet) will be expected to set the pace in the two-wheel drive category where the Escort trio of Adrian Hetherington, Vivian Hamill, and David Condell will be aiming to stay the pace.
The ALMC Endurance Trial at the Luttrellstown Castle Resort near Castleknock has an oversubscribed entry that includes Robert Barrable (Toyota Starlet), who plans to return to the Irish Tarmac Championship at next month’s West Cork Rally.
