Kris Meeke fears challenging weather on the Monte Carlo Rally
Citroen's Kris Meeke is expecting some of the toughest Monte Carlo Rally conditions ever on his debut as a full-time World Rally Championship factory driver
While the WRC opener started in Monaco on Monday night, the competition gets underway in the French Alps on Thursday morning.
This coincides with a significant change in the weather. The Gap region has been bathed in sunshine on Wednesday, but heavy rain and snow is expected overnight.
"This blue sky can give you a false sense of security," said Meeke.
"Tomorrow the weather changes, but nobody knows whether it will rain or snow or at what altitude the rain turns to snow. It's a flip of a coin to know about the weather.
"When we did the recce, we didn't have any snow and just a few patches of ice. We just noted the road as we saw it and we will add the ice detail after our safety crew go through the stage before us.
"Tomorrow's stages are not so high, one goes up to 1300 metres, but the others are around 800. It depends on where the snow line falls."
Meeke was joint second fastest with his fellow DS3 WRC driver Mads Ostberg in shakedown on Wednesday morning.
"I felt comfortable in the car this morning," said Meeke. "And now I feel ready. I'm going to relax a little bit this afternoon and just get ready for the first stage.
"I feel at home here and I just want to get started. I want to get back to work."
Previous article
WRC 2014: all change in a bid to stop Ogier
Next article
WRC Monte Carlo: Robert Kubica leads after first stage
About this article
| Series | WRC |
| Drivers | Kris Meeke |
| Author | David Evans |
Why the casualty of rallying's evolution should still be cherished
The WRC's support categories are in a process of streamlining that will spell the end of a formalised 2WD world championship-level category. While its relevance to the top level has been questioned for some time, that doesn't mean it should be swept quietly under the carpet
Why WRC's hybrid path could leave it at a crossroads
With all three major manufacturers committing to the World Rally Championship’s hybrid era from 2022, the future of the series is assured for now, but it could lead to trickier twists and turns further down the road
How Tanak froze out the competition at the Arctic Rally
Ott Tanak made up for a disastrous Monte Carlo Rally by leading all the way on the snow-kissed stages of the Arctic Rally Finland and in the process hit back at an event Toyota had been expected to dominate
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
This week's Arctic Rally Finland will bring the World Rally Championship into new territory. And, almost without exception, the service park can't wait for the subzero challenge to commence
How Ogier achieved a fitting Monte Carlo farewell
Against pandemic-shaped odds, the World Rally Championship season opener went ahead in Monte Carlo last weekend as a familiar face again took top spot. But for an emotional Sebastien Ogier, his record-breaking eighth win meant more than most
What to look out for in the 2021 WRC
As the 2021 World Rally Championship prepares to launch amid tight COVID-19 restrictions in Monte Carlo, here are the eight things unrelated to the pandemic that you should keep an eye on this year
Evans on the talking points of WRC 2021
He came close to the title last year, and now Toyota's Elfyn Evans gives his verdict on what to expect from 2021 as the World Rally Championship prepares to reconvene for the Monte Carlo season opener
Why Britain's continued WRC absence is a wake-up call
OPINION: With Rally GB dropping off the World Rally Championship calendar for the second year in a row, one of Britain's best-attended sporting events faces an uncertain future. It's an unfortunate situation that points to troubling times ahead
