Meeke delighted with ‘special’ podium finish
Considered to be the fastest event in the series, the Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team duo were never out of the top three, while they also secured an additional championship point for the third fastest time on the Power Stage.
Finnish driver Jari Matti Latvala (VW Polo WRC) took victory, the first by a Finnish driver since he won it in 2010 in a Ford Focus WRC. Hampered by brake troubles on the penultimate leg, Latvala saw a strong lead cut to a few seconds. However, he fended off the challenge of team-mate Sebastien Ogier to win by 3.6 seconds, with Meeke/Nagle 47 seconds behind.
Latvala was in control on Saturday until the afternoon when he broke a brake caliper on Stage 20. He lost 10 seconds in the process with Ogier, who had moved ahead of Meeke for second place on SS15, cutting the deficit to 20.1secs. On the day’s three remaining stages Latvala continued to lose time but not the lead, although Ogier was only 3.4secs back at the overnight halt.
Yesterday, the Tyrone/Kerry duo punched in third fastest times on all three stages to secure third and racked up their third podium of the season after Monte-Carlo and Argentina. Andreas Mikkelsen (VW Polo) and Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Fiesta WRC) were fourth and fifth respectively. Hayden Paddon looked set to take sixth until his Hyundai developed steering problems, allowing team-mate Juha Hanninen to take advantage.
On yesterday’s opening stage, Craig Breen (Ford Fiesta WRC), who was ninth overnight, was forced out after he injured his back.
In WRC3, Ulster pair Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble (Citroen DS3) were fifth in the category after rejoining under Rally2.
Meeke said: “This podium is even more special than the others. We then protected our position, but we ended the rally less than a minute behind the winner.
“I know we’ve still got some work to do before we can really challenge for the win. But for the time being I’m happy with third place and the experience acquired for the future.”
Elsewhere, in the RiverRidge Recycling Dogleap Rally in Derry, Derek McGarrity (Mini WRC) was fastest on all six stages and took a comfortable victory to finish 37 seconds ahead of Alan McGeehan (Toyota Corolla WRC).
Meanwhile, Portadown’s Colin Turkington (BMW 125i M Sport) extended his lead in the British Touring Car Championship with three podium finishes at Snetterton.
He finished second behind Jason Plato (MG6 GT) on the opening pair of races and was third in the final race of the day, won by Dubliner Aron Smith (Volkswagen CC).
On the domestic front, Kildare’s Ian Byrne (Nissan Special) won the Killarney & DMC Grass Surface Autocross at Aghadoe.
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