Kris Meeke has signed for Mini to compete in the 2011 WRC! autosport.com - WRC News: Meeke signs for Mini WRC programme
Interesting! Looks like there will be a much wider field next year, bring on S2000 rules. Also good to see PG Andersson getting in there, he really deserves a break.
Nice 1.. hopefully a lot more names do join to the wrc next year. volkswagon, saab, mini etc maybe even see the almighty subaru justy
Just read it again. It says Markus Gronholm is testing the car. If he likes it he might sign on himself Now that would be a challenge for Mr Meeke, even if Markus is an old dude these days
Big gamble. Unproven car, won't make it's debut until San Remo and they don't even have an engine yet. Prodrive MINI had to cancel a test session last week as the engine didn't arrive. Staying with the PSA group for one more season might have been a better bet, as it would enabled all to see how the new cars and regs pan out. Plus by that stage VW, SAAB and Toyota may also have fully committed WRC projects on the go. As always, Kris and Paul will get my full support.
agree with some of that Cess but going in against Marcus will show if he can compete with an ex-champion in the same car. I think he will be quicker than Marcus and then if the likes of Toyota come back they will see that Meeke is quick even if the car is unreliable and so on. Cant believe someone mentioned Meeke and Wilson in the same breath - dont care if it was even to say he was better - thats as obvious as day following night hahaha your last line Cess - im 100% on that with you
Was always going to happen !!!!! Peugeot will never be back in Wrc while citroen is there . And with citroen signing baby seb, there wasnt really any place for Meeke. Personally i think its a great move, prodrive will be out to prove a point , Meeke will be up there , hes as good a driver as the rest of the wrc contenders and has raw speed like colin mcrae had. Leob is in a league of his own fullstop , so i cant wait to see how he fairs against him. Nice to see Chris getting the break hes been deserving as long time.
hope he enjoys a decent amount of luck. Peugeot didn't seem to be helping his IRC cause much recently, Škoda have out developed them. Meeke has raw speed, just not the same raw speed Colin McRae had. no one has that raw speed
Go meeke. Know met him once and he is a real gentleman... he is a stunning driver and has proved it. Colin saw the potential and now its up to him to prove him right... Yes its a big gamble to move from the PSA umbrella with a proven car and a secure drive but the WRC is the pinnacle and lets face it all professional rally drivers aspire for a works drive in WRC. He has to take a gamble with mini but they have BMW money backing them so good on him for taking a the plunge plus Prodrive and Dave Richards are not newbies to the game Will be backing him 100% here!!! just think mini on the Monte again.. no pressure.
The 2011 Monte is an IRC event which the Prodrive/BMW Mini WRC won't be eligible for and won't be ready for.
Be interesting to see how Meeke'll get on in the WRC with the Mini! Best of luck to him and Paul I love how Gronholm is gonna decide after the testing, imagine having that kinda authority lol How many years of WRC-rallying does he have left I wonder, he's what 42 now?