British rally fans will anticipate the 2014 World Rally Championship with a new relish after Citroen Racing confirmed Kris Meeke as a factory driver for next season. The 34-year-old will become the first British driver to hold a full-time factory WRC seat since the late Colin McRae retired from the sport at the end of 2003.
British fans have a new hero to (sorry) rally around
"It's an incredible opportunity," said Meeke, who'll share his DS3 WRC with Irish co-driver Paul Nagle. "I've always been close to Citroen over the last few years. I'm really lucky to be able to work with a team that has so much experience and so many titles."
The Northern Irishman has a long association with Citroen having contested the Junior World Rally Championship in a C2 S1600 in 2005 and 2006. He then went on to compete in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge with sister company Peugeot in 2009 and 2010, winning the title at his first attempt.
Meeke's career looked set for lift-off in 2011 when he signed for the Mini World Rally Team, but when that programme failed to deliver on its promise he was left without a ride. As Citroen set about the daunting task of replacing the departing Sebastien Loeb during the 2013 season, Meeke was handed a lifeline in the shape of two outings in a factory-run DS3 WRC in Finland and Australia. Although both rallies ended quite spectacularly in the undergrowth, Meeke had shown enough raw speed to convince team principal Yves Matton that he was worthy of a factory drive.
Meeke will partner Norwegian ace Mads Ostberg who, despite being just 26, already has some 65 WRC starts to his credit.
Taster drives in 2013 impressed Citroen bosses
"Our team line-up for the 2014 season is in keeping with our ambitions," said Matton. "Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg have followed very different career paths, but both of them are on the cusp of making it into the very top class of world rally drivers. After an initial phase of learning and getting to know each other, our goal will be to help them to improve and turn them into real contenders for victory."
"I have only competed in 10 World Championship rallies in a WRC," added Meeke. "I think I've got some potential, but I still need to get some experience under my belt. The Citroen DS3 WRC is a terrific car and I'm going to be able to use the team's knowledge to help me improve. I know that I'll have to be patient in the first half of the season and learn all about the rallies that I haven't done before."
Citroen's dominance of the WRC came to an end in 2013 with the arrival of Volkswagen Motorsport, winner of both the Manufacturers' and Drivers' titles this season. The French squad will be hoping to reassert itself when the new season gets underway at Rallye Monte Carlo on 16-18 January 16-18.
To remind ourselves just why Meeke is deserving of a works ride in the WRC, here's some eye-popping footage of him competing on the Colin McRae Stages back in 2008 aboard a Ford Escort MkII.
See here