Meeke's MINI Adventure

MEEKE'S MINI ADVENTURE
by Matt Youson on Dec 27, 2010
From Meekes Mini adventure -- Sports Articles -- Red Bull

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After massive success in IRC, Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke is ready for the challenges of the World Rally Championship.

The popularity of the World Rally Championship has more ups and downs than an Ouninpohja Special Stage, and while the last few years haven’t exactly been a trough, nor have they been particularly vertiginous.

The number of works teams in competition has usually been a good indicator of the series’ health, and, with only Ford and Citroën playing in recent times, WRC has looked rather poorly. But that seems to be changing. With new rules in place, several manufacturers are being linked with an entry for 2012, though for the moment all the buzz is about the imminent return to rallying for Mini, and the announcement that Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke will switch codes from IRC to lead the charge.

Ever polite, 2009 IRC Champion Meeke speaks warmly of his former series but he concedes WRC is the series to which rally drivers aspire.

"The level of WSB is very high," explained Meeke. "There are guys there that can step across and put themselves on the podium in MotoGP – but ultimately everyone wants the opportunity to beat the likes of Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa.

"That’s exactly the same in rallying. IRC has its place, it has its level and the drivers are extracting the maximum out of their machinery – but ultimately everyone wants to take a shot at Sébastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen and Sébastien Ogier. Those guys are at the very top end of the sport. It’s still the World Rally Championship and it’s what I’ve always dreamed of being involved in. IRC is a fantastic series with great promotion – but I think no one will deny that WRC is still the pinnacle of the sport.

“IRC has been a fantastic place for me, but it’s the right time to go to WRC. I think I will have to work harder. But when you close the doors of the car, fire up the engine, I just have to do the same things I’ve been doing. I don’t have to reinvent my [style of] driving. I just have to let it happen. I’ve earned my opportunity by showing people what I can do behind the wheel on a car. I do think beating Sébastien Loeb and these guys will be an incredibly difficult task, but everyone associated with Mini is up to that task.â€

While a drive in WRC is undoubtedly a step up to the Premier League, the lure of the Mini brand was instrumental in convincing Meeke to switch codes. “Oh yeah, I think there’s something incredibly exciting and energetic about Mini. Add that to the history, plus the backing of BMW in Munich and the experience of Prodrive and there’s just so many elements that make it right.â€

There was also something a little closer to home: “Paddy Hopkirk is a name that’s obviously going to come up a bit, isn’t it? He was one of those drivers that made Mini so popular, winning the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini Cooper S – and he’s from about 30 miles away from my home. To have the opportunity to emulate – to attempt to emulate – the success of a fellow countryman like that… well, it’s pretty special.â€

Regarding the car itself, Mini’s entry into WRC is a first, but the technology under the shell has an excellent pedigree. As Meeke alludes, the experience of Prodrive – no strangers to winning the World Rally Championship – makes the Mini entry very serious indeed.

“Over the last 20 years they’ve been one of the most successful teams in WRC and have delivered the only two British World Rally Champions: the Subarus driven by both Colin McRae and Richard Burns were Prodrive cars. On top of that I’ve known [Prodrive Chairman] David Richards for a long time. He’s a guy who’s so enthusiastic about motorsport, and in particular the World Rally Championship. He doesn’t do things by halves. Any project he sets out to do will be done right.â€

Among his many other sporting achievements Richards himself is a World Rally Champion, having been Ari Vatanen’s co-driver when the pair won the title in 1981 driving a Ford Escort RS1800.

Mini’s intention is to contest half the rallies in the 2011 WRC season, using its first year as an extended test session. It takes some of the pressure off the team – but it also reduces the competitive element. Meeke, however, claims it’s entirely the correct approach.

“For me this is perfect. By taking their time and being patient, doing six or seven rallies and a lot of testing, they’re allowing the team to grow and develop. From my own personal point of view, it’s going to allow me to grow with the team.

“So many times we see teams rushing to get a car ready for the first round of the Championship and then be so busy with 14 or 15 events, they can’t properly continue with their deveopment programme.

“We’ll have more time on our hands. Our main focus is definitely 2012 when we would like to be a Championship contender. It’s a good way to work… and a fantastic opportunity.â€