Citroën confirms Meeke for 2015

Citroën Racing’s boss, Yves Matton, promised to deliver the news about 2015 lineup over the next couple of weeks, at a steady pace, and for now he is staying true to his word. Citroën Racing today solved one piece of that puzzle for us by confirming Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle. Boss Matton praised Meeke’s versatility and maturity on top of the speed we all know is there. I would imagine that means Kris is set for a “real deal” season next year; school is out, lessons are over and it’s time to take what you’ve got and aim it at Ogier & Co.

Matton went on to reiterate on his earlier promise, so we should learn about second DS3 WRC crew soon enough. Most likely, Citroën is going to retain Mads Ostberg for next year as well, or at least that seems like the most obvious choice. Bring in a new driver and he’s again going to need a full year of learning the car, events and team. Yet, it’s not official until Yves says it is, so Mads’ WRC destiny, for now, hangs in the balance.

CITROËN RACING AND KRIS MEEKE STAY TOGETHER FOR 2015!

Third in the Junior WRC with Citroën in 2005 and winner of the IRC in 2009, Kris Meeke competed in his first rallies with the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team in 2013. This season, the Brit play a major part in Citroën securing second place in the Manufacturers’ World Championship.

In 2015, Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle will therefore be joining forces in a works DS3 WRC.

“When we chose Kris Meeke for this season, we took a bit of a gamble,” recalled Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal. “But he has improved with pretty much every race and has now become a complete driver. The real turning point was at Rally Finland. He adopted the right approach. He has managed to acquire experience throughout the season. He has shown that he not only has real pace, but that he can be more patient sometimes as well. Kris is a competitive driver on all surfaces, capable of being quick on tarmac and on gravel. This versatility is a real asset for Citroën Racing. The name of the second works driver for 2015 will be announced shortly, once we have finalised the various discussions that are still ongoing.”

Having secured podium finishes on surfaces as different as Monte-Carlo, Argentina, Finland and France, Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle also led rounds in Germany and Australia. With an identical calendar scheduled for next season, the experience they have acquired this year will help them be even more competitive in 2015.

“It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to continue to work together,” commented Kris Meeke. “Since the end of last year, Citroën Racing has given me the chance to prove my worth. This first full season has been spent learning about the WRC. In the second half of the year, I was able to show part of my potential. There’s room for improvement, but I now have some decent foundations to build on next year, in order to keep progressing. With experience, everything becomes that bit easier. I know the team well and we understand each other. I feel like I’m part of the Citroën family!”

);