Latest IRC Rally News

Victory for Peugeot UK in round two of IRC in Brazil

Kris Meeke produced a faultless display to win the second round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in Brazil.

This is the second time that Kris and his co-driver Paul Nagle have triumphed on the gravel stages in Curitiba. And not even the slippery driving conditions – the result of an onslaught of overnight rain on the first day – could put them off course.

Peugeot UK prepares for the IRC second round in Brazil

Peugeot UK will be raring to go when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) arrives in Brazil on 4 March.

With a gruelling few days ahead of them, Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle are ready to challenge for leadership in Curitiba and hope to blow the competition away in the Peugeot 207 S2000.

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

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

Despite the minor setback, Kris and co-driver Paul Nagle are still real contenders for the title. The nifty Peugeot 207 S2000 crashed out at this stage in2009 and the boys still went on to blow the competition away.

Kris Meeke wins prestigious driving award

Kris Meeke wins prestigous driving award

Kris Meeke, Peugeot UK’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) Drivers’ Champion, has won the Autosport Rookie of the Year award to round off an astonishing 2009.

The Irish-born driver – who recently signed a new IRC contract with Peugeot UK along with co-driver Paul Nagle – stole the spotlight once again as his superb performances in the Peugeot 207 S2000 were recognised by the international motorsport community at London’s plush Grosvenor House Hotel.

Kris Meeke to race for Peugeot UK in 2010 IRC season

Kris and Paul celebrate their win at the Rally of Scotland

Reigning IRC Champion Kris Meeke will continue to race for Peugeot UK in 2010.

Kris wrapped up the 2009 season in style, with Peugeot also securing its third consecutive IRC Manufacturers' title. And Kris has now confirmed he’ll stay with Peugeot UK in 2010, along with co-driver Paul Nagle in their S2000. Kris explains: ‘We’ve finally dotted the ‘I’s and crossed the ‘T’s and it is absolutely impossible to put into words how grateful I am to Peugeot UK for the opportunities they have given me this year.’

Kris crowned King of Scotland

Peugeot 207 S200 in the Rally of Scotland

Kris Meeke has capped his amazing Intercontinental Rally Challenge season with a stunning victory in his Peugeot 207 S2000 in the Rally of Scotland.

It was the Battle of the Brits as Peugeot UK’s Kris and Skoda’s Guy Wilks fought it out, trading stage wins as they slithered through the Scottish forest tracks made treacherous by torrential downpours during Day 1 and 2.

Kris wins day 1 Battle of the Brits

With the 2009 IRC drivers’ title already under his belt, Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke devastated the competition once again on the first day of the inaugural Rally of Scotland.

Rain, gales and weather warnings had greeted the ceremonial start and opening spectator stages at Scone Palace on Thursday evening. And the rain returned on Friday, leaving rally rivals Kris and Guys Wilks (Skoda) to fight to keep their cars on the road in the treacherous conditions.

Kris Meeke claims IRC title

Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke has claimed the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge crown. He scooped the Drivers’ championship title after a stunning performance on the twisty, mountain routes above the glittering resort of San Remo.

His drive to victory in the penultimate round of the IRC means a double celebration for the Peugeot team, who had already bagged the 2009 IRC Manufacturers’ title before heading to the Italian Riviera.

Kopecky crashes out in San Remo

It promised to be a thrilling first day of the most prestigious event of the rally calendar as Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke arrived in San Remo as leader of the championship with only the slimmest of margins over Jan Kopecky.

Skoda driver Kopecky claimed the opening stage's fastest time – two seconds in front of Kris who fought hard in his Peugeot 207 S2000 to finish the first stage in third place.

Kris Meeke heads to the brutal, San Remo ‘super stage’

Kris and Paul head for the brutal, San Remo late-night ‘supe

Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke will continue his title battle with Skoda’s Jan Kopecky as he heads to San Remo in Italy for the 10th and penultimate round of the IRC.

Despite winning three times already this season in his Peugeot 207 S2000, Kris is fully aware of the enormity of the task.

Meeke retains lead after IRC 9th round

Peugeot UK drivers Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle started Day Two of the Rally Principe de Asturias with one aim – to gain as many points as possible.

And it wasn’t long before they moved up from seventh position as they completed the remaining stages of the IRC ninth round in their 207 S2000.

Day One of the Rally Principe de Asturias

It was a challenging start to the IRC 9^th round in Spain yesterday.

Peugeot’s Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle took part in nine stages on Day One. Yet the road surface on the opening two stages proved difficult. Kris says: ‘We had a really bad tyre choice and the last 7 or 8kms was like driving on ice.’

IRC 9th Round begins…

Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle are determined to keep their Championship lead in the ninth round of the 2009 IRC.

The pair are competing in the Rally Principe de Asturias in Northern Spain this weekend.

Meeke puts on the pressure on Day One

Peugeot UK drivers Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle put the pressure on yesterday on Day One of the IRC Czech Rally.

Despite losing 30 seconds on the Super Special stage on Friday night, the pair quickly climbed up the leader board on Saturday. And at the end of Day One, the Peugeot UK team had moved up to third position

Meeke ready for IRC Czech rally stages

As the IRC eighth round in the Czech Republic begins, Peugeot UK's Kris Meeke is well prepared for the challenge.

The Championship leader suffered a puncture in the Super Special stage through the streets of Zlin on Friday night. And although this put him 30 seconds off the lead, as Saturday's stages began, he was looking forward to the challenge.

Preparations for IRC eighth round begin

Peugeot UK drivers Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle are on their way to the Czech Republic for the next round of the 2009 IRC.

The pair will compete in their Peugeot 207 S2000 at the Barum Czech Rally Zlin from August 21-23. It’s a crucial race for the Peugeot UK team, who are currently leading the IRC Drivers Standings.

Kris still leads IRC Championship

The final day of the Rally Madeira continued to be challenging for Peugeot UK drivers Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle.

But despite the punishing temperatures and difficult course, the pair held on to their Championship lead as the IRC seventh round concluded. Starting the final day in sixth position, at Stage 16 they moved up to fifth position in their Peugeot S2000.

The Race Is On - Madeira Day Two

The heat was on during Day Two of the Rally Madeira as IRC Championship leader Kris Meeke battled the challenging course.

As the Peugeot UK driver and his co-driver Paul Nagle faced 12 special stages, they dropped down the leader board. Yet it wasn’t long before the pair found their pace in the S2000 and proved their mettle by setting a fastest time.

Kris Meeke leads in Madeira

Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke is top of the leader board after the first stage of the IRC Rali Vinho Madeira.

Setting the pace in their S2000, Kris and Paul dominated the 2.18km stage around the port area by setting eight of the top ten fastest times.