WRC – Kris Meeke betrayed by an overly optimistic note

Volkswagen's disappointment matches that experienced by Citroën Racing in Rally from Germany. After Jari-Matti Latvala went off the road in Dhrontal (SS15), Kris Meeke seemed able to take his first victory in WRC even if he was threatened by Hyundai de Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo. But the Northern Irishman was also trapped by the route of the German event in the following Grafschaft special (SS16). His retirement marks the end of a series of successes for the Reds that began since Germany's arrival in the WRC in 2002.

“The first stage was really complicated. When I was told that Jari-Matti was arrested, it didn't change my state of mind. I wasn?t affected by the prospect of winning?, says Kris Meeke. “I started SS16 feeling relaxed and focused. But I was a little too optimistic at the start of the special. We hit with the front wheel. I felt a big vibration and we went out into the next corner hitting a wall. I am really disappointed for the whole team who are working hard to achieve results. But we showed that we were in the rhythm. We already have to think about the next rally. »

Discover the analysis of the German Rally carried out by our special correspondents in issue 1975 of AUTOhebdo, available from tomorrow evening in digital version on all platforms, and from Wednesday on newsstands.