Wales Rally GB Preview: Can Kris Meeke win at home?

Northern Irishman Meeke’s stock has risen during a part-time campaign for Citroën in 2016 thanks to two victories in the DS 3 WRC, in Portugal and Finland, but it’s a win on Rally Great Britain, née the RAC Rally for those old enough to remember, that he really wants on the CV.

He finished fourth in a Prodrive-run Mini John Cooper Works in 2011, fell to sixth after a final-morning puncture while running in a podium spot for Citroën in 2014 and took a strong second for the French marque last year.

That’s a pretty decent strike rate, so there’s no reason why he can’t mount a challenge for victory in the penultimate round of WRC 2016, ahead of a return to a full campaign in a new-look 2017 season. Despite a relative lack of experience in a top-class car on the Welsh forest stages, his pace is always strong and, with long-time co-driver Paul Nagle sitting alongside him, he knows what to expect from the ever-changing conditions.

The only stumbling block to a Meeke triumph may well be Volkswagen Polo-shaped. The German machines have again done the bulk of the winning this year, courtesy of Sébastien Ogier (Monte Carlo, Sweden, Germany, Corsica and Catalunya), Jari-Matti Latvala (Mexico) and Andreas Mikkelsen (Poland) with the Frenchman securing a fourth consecutive drivers’ world title after winning in Spain last time out.

Ogier comes to Wales aiming to be only the second driver in the event’s history to make it four wins in row – matching Norwegian Petter Solberg’s quadruple whammy for Subaru between 2002 and 2005. Several drivers have done the hat-trick (Timo Mäkinen, 1973-1975; Colin McRae, 1994, 1995, 1997 (1996 was a non-championship affair); Richard Burns, 1998-2000; Sébastien Loeb, 2008-2010) but a quartet of wins for Ogier now that the title pressure has gone away would be a fitting bolt-on to his season.

Other headaches for Meeke could come in the form of the two other VW Polos of 2011-2012 winner Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen and the three Hyundai i20s of Thierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo.

It’s going to be a classic scrap, with road positioning crucial in what is an earlier-in-the-calendar-than-usual Dayinsure Wales Rally GB. Will it be dry and dusty or soggy and slippery? Probably a mixture of all that, if previous events are any sort of barometer!

Goodwood Road & Racing will be there soaking up the atmosphere and bringing you news, views and galleries from one of Britain’s longest-running and prestigious international events. See you on the stages!

Photography by Ben Miles.