30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Kris Meeke reveals the two things he's relying on to help banish his Rali Vinho da Madeira hoodoo
The 46-year-old makes his fifth start at the island-based event this evening, determined to banish past disappointments and return to the podium's top step with Stuart Loudon.
Meeke's single best performance on Madeira came in 2009 during his Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) days when he finished fifth overall as a Peugeot UK-backed driver.
Retirement beckoned the following year when his car developed an oil leak, followed by a bad accident in 2023 that left him injured, and a ten-minute time penalty last season.
'Madeira has not exactly been a happy place for me; the first time was in 2009 and it was tough,' said Meeke, who currently holds a slim five point lead over Armindo Araujo in the Portuguese Rally Championship points' standings after the opening five rounds.
'Since then, I have had two more attempts where, again, luck was not on my side. This year, however, I am bringing more experience and – above all – I am bringing a car that I love.'
Meeke has quickly gelled with the GR Yaris Rally2 since his switch to it after two spells in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, beginning the defence of his crown with three consecutive wins.
Since then, late suspension damage meant he failed to finish Rally de Portugal and lost maximum points in the process, with a retrospective time penalty on last month's Rali de Castelo Branco handing the win to his close friend and rival, Dani Sordo.
'The GR Yaris Rally2 was incredible in Castelo Branco, perhaps even better on asphalt than on dirt,' said Meeke. 'Of course, I know that the Portuguese drivers know all of these stages very well, as they have been doing this race for 20 years, so the challenge will be enormous – but I am very happy to be back in Madeira and to give my all for a good result.'
He added: 'It was really tough to lose in Castelo Branco like that, but I am very happy with the performance. The duel with Dani was excellent – he is one of the best asphalt drivers in the world – so I really had to give it my all to stay ahead of him. When the battle is like that, decided by tenths of a second on such fast stages, it is a real pleasure to compete.'
Comprising 13 special stages, the first is the short Cidade do Funchal street stage this evening (7.30pm) followed by six on Friday and a further six on the Saturday.
