Kris Meeke stays focused despite early slip-up in Monte Carlo

Peugeot UK's 207 S2000

Reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) Champion Kris Meeke has made an early exit from the Monte Carlo Rally in Monaco… yet the Peugeot UK driver remains upbeat as the dusty gravel stages of Brazil await him in March.

Despite the setback, Kris and co-driver Paul Nagle are still real contenders for the title. The Peugeot 207 S2000 crashed out at this stage in 2009 and the boys still went on to blow the competition away.

Track conditions at Monte Carlo have been treacherous for several days leading up to the opening of the first stage. A layer of slushy, black ice proved to be what eased the 207 S2000 off the track – just 2km in to the second day of the rally.

The S2000 remained unscathed. Kris explained: ‘The bumper was cracked, but we were stuck 20ft down a bank and there was no way we could get out while the stage was still going on. We drove the car back once we’d got it out.’

Although Kris and Paul will have to watch the rest of the Monte Carlo rally from the service area, this has not put the breaks on Peugeot UK’s pursuit of the IRC crown.

Kris said: ‘It doesn’t matter how hard you prepare or how hard you try, something like that could happen on this rally.’

Mikko Hirvonen, in the Ford Fiesta, has made an impressive start – despite the conditions  – but it won’t be long before Kris and Paul return to take on the dry tracks of Curitiba when the IRC tour travels to Brazil.

Catch all the action and post-race comment with Peugeot’s IRC videos. And don’t forget to follow Peugeot UK’s progress on Twitter.

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