Peugeot Sign Meeke To Drive In IRC

The French Maker Hopes To Win The Series With Colin McRae's Prodigy

Dec 18, 2008

Peugeot UK has confirmed that it will be competing in the Intercontinental Rally Championship with a 207 S2000 driven by Kris Meeke and co-driven by Paul Nagle.

The UK outfit has teamed up with Kronos Racing to prepare and support a Peugeot 207 S2000 in next year’s (2009) Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

It was Kronos Racing that took Sebastien Loeb to win the world title in a Citroen Xsara in 2006. This was the year the Citroen works outfit took time out to prepare the now all conquering C4.

Kronos has a brilliant reputation in rallying and this should be a good sign for the Peugeot UK team.

The 2009 IRC Challenge will be contested over 12 rounds starting with the legendary Monte Carlo Rally in January and finishing in November with the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland.

Peugeot UK has signed Kris Meeke to drive the car in the championship. Meeke has previously driven for Kronos before when competed in the 2005 Junior World Rally Championship and finished 3rd overall.

Kris beamed, "This is an incredible opportunity for both me and my co-driver Paul Nagle! It brings my career somewhat full circle, as my first introduction to rallying was through a Peugeot UK supported competition in 2000. Some awesome and diverse challenges lie ahead in the 2009 IRC, but we can rest assured that with the support and championship winning pedigree of both Peugeot and Kronos, we will have the best opportunity to prove our abilities in the coming season!”

While co-driver Paul Nagle added,"It’s brilliant to get a works drive, it really is a dream come true. Both myself and Kris are over the moon and we cannot wait to get started, this really has been the perfect Christmas present for both of us."

In 2002 Meeke's career blossomed as the late great Colin McRae recognised his talent and mentored the lad from Dungannon. This relationship proved fruitful as Meeke under the watchful eye of McRae won the British Junior Rally Championship title.

Meeke and Nagle have a real chance of the title as the Peugeot 207 S2000 has already become the car to beat in the IRC challenge where it has secured the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championship, in both 2007 and 2008.

Pierre Louis Colin (Managing Director Peugeot UK) “I am very pleased we have been able to enter next year’s IRC championship with Kris. Rallying is in the blood of Peugeot and it is a good demonstration of the dynamism of Peugeot cars, especially the 207. We know we have a winning car, and in Kris and Paul we also have a winning team. In these difficult times, it is important that you make sound commercial decisions but it is also important to communicate to your customers in a positive way your brand and your commitment to it.”

The copyright of the article Peugeot Sign Meeke To Drive In IRC in Rally Racing is owned by Simon McBride. Permission to republish Peugeot Sign Meeke To Drive In IRC in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.