Former WRC ace Kris Meeke is the latest star name driver to be confirmed for this November’s Roger Albert Clark Rally.
The Northern Irishman will drive a freshly built historic specification Ford Escort Mk2 from the Wales Motorsport team on the November 23-27 rally, which will cover 350 stage miles in the forests of Wales, Scotland and England.
Meeke joins rising WRC star Oliver Solberg in the entry list for the event that re-creates the spirit and atmosphere of the original RAC Rallies of the 1970s. He will be part of an eight-car team from the Wales Motorsport squad of Meirion Evans.
“For sure it's going to be a huge challenge,” Meeke said. “I have a real thing from my childhood for old school rallies and the way it used to be. To say I'm excited to do it is an understatement as it's been on my bucket list for a long time, but the opportunity to do it has never presented itself before. This is the culmination of several months of planning with Meirion Evans from Wales Motorsport.”
Forest special stages in the dark and using organisers’ route notes rather than making his own will be just two of the challenges he'll face on the event. Meeke will be co-driver by Irishman Noel O’Sullivan, who challenged for the lead of the 2021 rally alongside Osian Pryce.
Meeke, five times a WRC rally winner, added: “A WRC rally is nearly 200 miles in three days and it is intense. But this is five days and it's 350 miles. That's what makes it special and the amount of driving in the dark is something special as well. It’s going to be a huge challenge and it is going to be awesome.”
Meeke has limited experience in Ford Escorts but says it was the obvious choice for the event. “I've driven an Escort a few times. Maybe not so much in recent years but back when I was involved with Colin McRae.”
The dialogue between Meeke and Evans started back in the spring. “Meirion does build a very, very good car so it should be a strong package. I've seen the attention to detail on the cars he builds.”
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