Kris Meeke describes a tough Rally Germany to approach

Kris Meeke will find in Germany a surface where he had shone at the start of the race in Corsica before being betrayed by the mechanics. But the test across the Rhine is proving complicated to understand according to the Briton.

Published on 13/08/2017 à 18:08

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Kris Meeke describes tough Rally Germany to approach

Highly anticipated in the clan Citroën, the German round will allow the French team to confront its C3 for a second time on asphalt in 2017, a terrain which had succeeded in WRC French in the first stages of the Tour de Corse earlier in the year.

Citroën Racing will also be able to count on the technical feedback provided at the start of the week by Sébastien Loeb, invited to do a driving session in the East of France. Driving impressions that, according to French team boss Yves Matton, were very close to those of Kris Meeke, Andreas Mikkelsen and Craig Breen.

The first city will be closely scrutinized in Germany after having shone in Corsica, before an engine problem, and after having experienced a more delicate period following the island round, notably being replaced by Mikkelsen in Poland.

The Briton is however wary of this German event, which is not easy to handle according to him due to the multiple surfaces encountered between the roads in the Moselle vineyards, but also the passages on the Baumholder military camp, always very rough for the cars.

“At the Tour de Corse, we saw the potential of the C3 WRC on the tarmac, recalls Meeke. Germany is another challenge, but I have the same good feelings as during the tests. I tested the car on different surfaces and in several conditions, but il is very difficult to approach rally because there are three different types of terrain and the weather rarely stays the same from start to finish. »

Back on the podium?

Author of a podium on the Rallye de France-Alsace in 2014 with the DS3 WRC, Kris Meeke has never materialized with Citroën in Germany, with a retirement and a 12th place for his two participations with the most victorious team on this test. The Briton knows that he will have to give everything to aim for the leading roles next weekend.

“I can't wait to drive through the vineyards, However, specifies the former IRC champion. With top speeds on narrow, winding roads, you need to steer extremely precisely. However, to hope to be well placed at the finish, you must go hard from the first to the last kilometer. »