CITROEN DROP KRIS MEEKE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CRASHES

Citroen drop Kris Meeke due to excessive number of crashes – Photo: LAT

Just days after destroying another Citroen at the most recent WRC round in Portugal last weekend, the French manufacturer has dropped lead driver Kris Meeke for the remainder of the 2018 World Rally Championship.

Citroen put out a statement this morning, confirming that Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle would no longer compete with the team in 2018 “Due to an excessively high number of crashes”.

Team Principal of Citroen Racing WRT, Pierre Budar, confirmed that the decision was based on safety concerns.

“This wasn’t an easy decision to make because it affects a driver and a co-driver, but it is largely founded on safety issues which come under my preoccupations as Team Principal. We have consequently chosen to make this decision as a preventive measure.” said Budar.

The decision becomes effective immediately which see a changed driver line-up for the next WRC round, Rally Italia Sardegna. Citroen did confirm that the entries of Craig Breen/Scott Martin and Mads Ostberg/Torstein Eriksen still stand for Sardinia. While it’s not clear if the third car will be entered.

Meeke had been recruited to spearhead Citroen’s factory WRC return in 2017, however, was only able to finish the championship in seventh.

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