Kris Meeke wants to repeat his 2014 performance

Winner of Rally from Argentina this season, Chris Meeke has since not experienced the joys of a podium in the World Rally Championship. The Briton from the Citroën Racing team is counting on the Rally Finland, the eighth round of the year, to return to the forefront in an event that smiled on him in 2014.

Last year, Meeke, for his second participation in the famous 1000 Lakes with the DS3 WRC, had for a time interfered in the fight for victory alongside the Volkswagen Polo R of Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala before finishing third. With increased experience at the wheel of the French car, as well as in these events in the second part of the calendar, the former Mini driver hopes to return to the top places.

“Finland is a meeting that I am particularly looking forward to. The stages are quite similar to what we experienced last year. There is going to be a great show and the return of Ouninpohja in a long version delights everyone, explains Meeke. In 2014, I followed the first two until the start of the last day. It would be perfect to continue at the same tempo, even though I know that many of us want to fight in front! »

Citroën Racing prepared for testing with four days of testing, very useful for getting used to this very particular terrain, and the numerous “jumps” which mark the Finnish route. “It is essential to be efficient when taking notes. Being in the rhythm makes it easier to read the trajectories.

We will also be able to work on very specific settings for high speeds and jumps. One of the challenges will be to adapt the car to a road possibly dug up during the second passes. »

The Rally Finland will begin this Thursday, and can be followed live on AUTOhebdo.fr