AN on-song Kris Meeke comfortably triumphed on his first visit to the Otago International Classic Rally in New Zealand over the weekend to add his name to an illustrious list of former champions.
Dungannon native Meeke – with fellow Irishman Noel O’Sullivan on the notes – recorded multiple fastest times during the course of the two-day Dunedin-based event to triumph by over three minutes.
Given the 44-year-old’s profile – and success at the sport’s highest level – Meeke was deemed the Star Driver for the classic section of the 171-mile competition and more than lived up to his billing.
Success sees the ex-Citroen Racing and Toyota Gazoo Racing driver join Scotsman Jimmy McRae, Estonian Markko Martin and Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen in gracing the top step of the rally’s podium
Second to Meeke at the finish was Otago Rally regular Deane Buist in a similar Ford Escort RS1800, with the top three positions rounded out by John Silcock aboard his crowd-pleasing Mazda RX7.
“The rally, it is probably the best event I have ever done,” reflected Meeke, whose success came in an Escort previously rallied by former World Rally champions Ari Vatanen and Juha Kankkunen.
“The roads are the best I have ever driven and the car has been spectacular – I learned a lot about Mk2 Escorts this week. But honestly, what an experience.
The Mk2 Escort is nearly fifty-years-old, but there is something really special about it. It was so sweet to drive and the set-up was perfect.”
Meanwhile, Kesh’s Jon Armstrong opened his FIA European Rally Championship account with an eighth-place finish on V-Hid Rally Hungary in his Motorsport Ireland-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 car.
“I had a pretty good rally – to get a top 10 finish is nice,” said Armstrong.
“We have gained a big nugget of knowledge this weekend which we will take into the next round.”