Two of the main protagonists in the inaugural RallyScotland — Lanark’s Alister McRae and Dungannon’s Kris Meeke — have confirmed they will go head-to-head in next year’s Intercontinental Rally Championship (IRC).
Forty-eight hours after the spectacular firework display high above Stirling Castle, which signalled the end of RallyScotland, 2009 IRC champ Meeke announced he will defend his title with Peugeot.
“There has been a bit of uncertainty over the last few months, but we’ve finally dotted the ‘i’s and crossed the ‘t’s and I can confirm I shall drive again with Peugeot in next year’s IRC,” the 30-year-old, who will again be co-driven by Ireland’s Paul Nagle, said.
“We have to try and hold the baton now and defend our title next year. We just want to try to keep this rhythm. We’ve clicked on something that just works. I have to say I don’t think it could get much better than this.”
Meeke’s RallyScotland victory though still remains at risk as officials carry out tests on his Peugeot 207 S2000’s the front cross member which is suspected of being under weight.
“We now understand the part will be weighed again in Scotland on a new set of calibrated scales,” a Peugeot spokesman explained. “The sport’s governing body, the the FIA are talking directly with Peugeot Sport. Hopefully we’ll have a decision on Thursday.”
And Meeke, whose car was transported back to the team’s UK base in Coventry yesterday, will again battle with McRae’s Proton S2000 in 2010.
“We’re doing the full IRC next year,” the 38-year-old Scot and former World Rally Championship regular with Hyundai and Mitsubishi, announced.
“Finishing third in RallyScotland in only my third outing in the Proton to give the manufacturer its first IRC podium was special, but we know this is only the start.
“The car is quick and it can only get quicker. The chassis is one of the best I have ever driven. Proton is a small team and a young team and we can only go from strength to strength. I can’t wait to get back to fighting with Kris and the IRC guys next season.”
There also remains the strong possibility that Guy Wilks, who finished second in RallyScotland, just 20.7secs behind Meeke, will step up to contest the full IRC season with Skoda.
“RallyScotland was a one-off event,” the Darlington driver, a double British champion, explained, “but I would love to have a collaboration in the future. I don’t want to speculate too much, but it would be great to go out there with three Brits fighting it out in IRC next year.”
The 12-round IRC calendar gets underway on January 19 in Monte Carlo and includes rallies in Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus. RallyScotland, October 14-16, is the penultimate round of the 2010 championship.
JM