Rally - Meeke's Maiden win

Kris ...

There’ll be fireworks over Dungannon tonight and hangovers all around Northern Ireland tomorrow. And here in the northern half of Britain as well.

Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle scored an emotional maiden WRC victory in Argentina earlier today at the wheel of their Citroen DS3. It was a good weekend all round for the French team with Mads Østberg and Jonas Andersson securing the runner-up position just 18 seconds behind their team mates.

It was the first win for a British driver since Colin McRae’s success on the Safari Rally in 2002, and with Elfyn Evans claiming third place in his Fiesta, Britain enjoyed two drivers on the WRC podium for the first time since 2001.

... and Paul

There was just one thing missing from the podium. With a Northern Irish and a Welsh driver, plus an English and an Irish co-driver, all it needed was a wee touch of tartan to finish the job off.

As Kris and Paul stood on their Citroen’s roof at the finish line, an emotional Kris fought back tears as he paid tribute to his early mentor, the 1995 World champion Colin McRae. “What can I say? It’s been an exceptionally long road. This one’s for Colin.”

Amen to that. I’m sure the whole of Scotland would wish each one of the fantastic four all our heartiest congratulations. And here’s hoping it’s just the first of many. 

Final Overall Classification: 
1, K. Meeke / P. Nagle (Citroën DS3 WRC) 3:41:44.9
2, M. Østberg / J. Andersson (Citroën DS3 WRC) +18.1
3, E. Evans / D. Barritt (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +3.27.4
4, M. Prokop / J. Tomanek (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +6:26.1
5, D. Sordo / M. Martí (Hyundai i20 WRC) +10:46.7
6, K. Al Qassimi / C. Patterson (Citroën DS3 WRC)  +11:19.9
7, A. Al-Kuwari / M. Clarke (Ford Fiesta RRC) +16:02.6
8, D. Dominguez / E. Galindo (Ford Fiesta R5) +18:48.2
9, G. Saba / D. Cagnotti (Škoda Fabia S2000) +21:20.6
10, F. Villagra / D. Curletto (Ford Fiesta S2000) +25:19.6