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Meeke and co-driver Glenn Paterson are contesting the FIA Junior World Rally Championship this season, driving for the Citroën JWRC Team, but the opportunity to contest the fourth round of Britain’s premier rally championship was too good to miss.
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Although not scoring championship points, it’s the cars and drivers of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship that Meeke will be comparing himself against.
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“It will be fascinating battle with the BRC boys,” says Meeke. “A lot depends on the weather. If it is wet it will be impossible to compete against the four-wheel-drive GpN machinery, but if it’s dry it will be interesting.”
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Although it is Meeke’s local event, he can’t really count on any advantage of home knowledge. “I’ve only competed on the Ulster in 2003 and stages have changed so my experience is limited,” he says.
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“Rally base is only ten miles from both my home and Glenn’s. It’s true to say that it is a home event in that sense, but as experience of the stages is concerned, not many will believe me, but when I did the recce I was on country lanes I never knew existed, and they are only five miles from my home!
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“It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring the Citroën JWRC Team to home soil. I have so much support from home but not everyone gets an opportunity to see me in action.”
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The Philip White Tyres Ulster Rally is the fourth round of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship. It starts in Armagh at 15.00 on Friday 1st September and finishes back in Armagh at 17.30 on the following day after 125 stage miles.
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