Meeke: “Pleased for those who put their faith in me”

Kris Meeke shone in Monte Carlo this weekend and it’s a real shame Robert Kubica slid off the road right in the thick of a battle with Kris, it would be great to see them push each other for the remainder of the event. The British driver was in his element. There were no errors, no mistakes, no poor judgement, Kris was on the ball and he produced a result worth every bit of trust Citroën bosses put in him. Their choice wasn’t simple, Kris was fast but also unreliable last year, yet they saw something in him, something Kris’ fans swear by for years. Colin McRae’s student made sure there were no weak links in his armour in Monte Carlo and the result was there. Third place in his first outing for Citroën Racing, I am positive this is a sign of great things from Kris and Paul Nagle this year.

Here’s what Kris and his team mate Mads Ostbert together with Citroën Racing’s boss Yves Matton had to say about 2014 Rallye Monte Carlo.

Kris Meeke: “I’ve never witnessed conditions like these at a rally. It was incredibly difficult, but we achieved our goal. I had a very good feeling in the Citroën DS3 WRC. Monte-Carlo is always a tough rally. It’s not really a tarmac rally and it’s a snow rally either. It’s got a bit of everything! I’m very pleased for those who put their faith in me. It’s really nice to be able to pay back the team for their support with this result.”

Mads Østberg: “This fourth position feels like a small victory! I must thank the fantastic team that helped us achieve this result. We made some minor mistakes but the conditions were especially difficult. I know we could have been quicker on some of the stages, but we had to make sure of our position so we didn’t take any unnecessary risks. Bring on the snow at Rally Sweden!”

Yves Matton (Citroën Racing Team Principal): “We asked our crews not to take any risks when the conditions were difficult… and we pretty much only had difficult conditions! They raced sensibly and followed the instructions we gave them, pushing when they felt confident. This performance is a great way to start the season, and highly motivating for the entire team. We all know about Kris’s speed. This weekend, he showed his maturity and his ability to manage a result. It’s an important stage in building the foundations of the rest of the season. Mads is not really a tarmac driver. However, he felt confident in the Citroën DS3 WRC straightaway. During the shakedown, he said that he had really enjoyed driving on this surface for the first time. He then went on to set some very good times.”