Dungannon driver Kris Meeke reveals the big challenge he faces in latest Portuguese test
He is returning to a rally he won back in 2023 — and came close to conquering last year only for a throttle issue and a late puncture to deny him — in a car he has never driven in anger on Tarmac before.
To complicate matters further, the competitive route for the two-day, closed-road fixture has undergone a number of tweaks as organisers attempt to increase the challenge for competitors.
A shakedown test has been planned by the Sports & You team for the Dungannon man and team-mate Stuart Loudon to help the 45-year-old dial in the new Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris Rally2 on asphalt.
'It will undoubtedly be an interesting challenge,' admitted Meeke, who had been due to travel from Portugal to Letterkenny for next weekend's Donegal International Rally before having a change of heart following the death of Dai Roberts while competing on the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland, and his co-driver for Donegal — Brian Hoy — suffering injuries in a crash on the Cavan Stages Rally.
'It will be my first time with the new Yaris on asphalt, so there is going to be a lot to learn. In addition, we have not driven competitively on asphalt since last October's Vidreiro Rally, so the test is going to be essential to gain confidence — and help us prepare ourselves as best possible.'
Meeke's winning start to the defence of his Portuguese crown came to an end on May's Rally de Portugal when late suspension failure on the final stage meant he was unable to make it back to parc ferme and collect another maximum points haul for topping the timesheets.
He added: 'Rally de Portugal was obviously very disappointing, but that is behind us now. There are many new aspects to the Castelo Branco Rally and looking at the route, there are new special stages, and that means prior knowledge will not carry as much weight.
'It makes everything even more competitive, it will certainly be a close fight, especially with people like Dani (Sordo, Team Hyundai Portugal), but I am excited about the challenge.'
Rali de Castelo Branco begins on Friday with four short stages and continues on Saturday when crews will tackle a further eight speed tests, the last of which is scheduled to get underway at 9.30pm UK time.
Meanwhile, Kesh driver Jon Armstrong is also in action this weekend as he resumes his FIA European Rally Championship campaign at Rally Poland with Shane Byrne and M-Sport Ford.
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