Pressure on but confident Meeke ready to bounce back in Rally Finland

Pressure is something Tyrone’s Kris Meeke reckons he has handled for most of his rallying career.

In the face of some criticism from his Citroen team boss Yves Matton,Meeke and his Killarney co-driver Paul Nagle can bounce back on RallyFinland that begins in earnest this morning, following last night’s short opening stage where they were second – just sixth tenths of a second behind the VW Polo WRC of world champions Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia.

Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (VW Polo WRC) were two tenths of a second further behind in third.

Matton reckoned Meeke’s crashes in Poland and Sardinia effectively wiped out the positives of his victory in Argentina and has put his place in the team next year in jeopardy. Meeke told WRC Live radio presenter Becs Williams. “Nobody will take Argentina away from me, no matter what. It was a high - albeit on a rally where VW had their worst week since they started. I remained realistic afterwards, and the following event inPortugal showed that, I believe in Portugal we nearly had a stronger rallythan Argentina and we ended up fourth behind the three Volkswagens. That showed the reality of where we were.”

The Irishman hasn’t shirked his responsibilities and has taken the blame for his crash in Sardinia. It may seem he is in need of some strong results,but Meeke defended his position. “I’ve driven most of my career never having a secure future and it seems like that’s the case again. So really it’s no different I’m always under pressure to get to the next rally and to do well, to get results to get another season. I’ve been through a lot harder times than this.

“At least I have a seat and a steering wheel to do a good job this year toprove that we can continue next year.”

In the second half of last season, Meeke attained his best results, including a third in Finland. “I have more experience on the events in the second half of the season. Finland is therefore a round that I am really looking forward to, the stages are fairly similar to the ones we saw last year.

“There’ll be plenty of excitement and everyone is delighted the long version of Ouninpohja is back this year. I kept up with the front two until the start of the final day. It would be perfect to maintain the same kind of pace, although I know there are quite a few of us who want to fight at the front.”

Today is the toughest of the weekend including a double run over 34.30 kilometre Ouninpohja stage.

On the shakedown stage yesterday Waterford’s Craig Breen crashed and rolled his Peugeot 208 T16 twice and although there was considerable panel damage his Sainteloc team were able to have it ready for the start. Monaghan’s Daniel McKenna (Citroen DS3 R3T) got safely through the opening stage, he’s competing in the WRC3 category.

Tomorrow’s Dogleap Rally in Shackleton in Co Derry has an entry of some 60 crews. Derek McGarrity is the top seed but is undecided as to what car he will drive. Alan McGeehan (Toyota Corolla WRC), George Robinson (Mitsubishi), Martin Cairns (Subaru WRC), Joe McGonigle (Skoda Fabia S2000). Mark Massey, Niall Henry and PJ McDermott all in Subaru WRC’s are amongst a top 10 completed by the Ford Escorts of Alastair Cochrane and motorcycle star Michael Dunlop.

Chairman of the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association David Gray confirmed the overall award for next season’s Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship will be confined to R5 cars. Some top competitors are of the view World Rally Cars that are now banned from winning the series - even though they can win events - would still be considered for the 2016 seriesin tandem with R5’s,but this is not the case. A few weeks ago the Donegal Motor Club stated that they would withdraw from the series if the TROA decided to go down the R5 route.

Killarney’s Rob Duggan (22) is the latest bi-monthly nominee for this year’s Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver Award. It follows his victories in the Junior categories of the Rally of the Lakes and the Donegal International Rally.

Meanwhile, the Jimmy Devane Memorial Killarney Autocrosss due to take place on Sunday has been postponed due to poor ground conditions. Elsewhere, the Irish Hillclimb Championship continues with a double round in Effin, Kilmallock that is hosted by the Limerick Motor Club. There is an 11.30am start tomorrow and Sunday.