Rallye WRC Monte Carlo 2019

**dimviii** · 29th January 2019, 14:34

"This is the best car I've ever driven, bar none," said Meeke. "It just felt so nice.

"Let's not forget I won this powerstage in the Citroen last year, but the line on that car was fine.

"In the Yaris, I feel I can squeeze everything from the car and push it hard and it's all there under me - there's no stress and no worries.

"I've been excited from the first stage. I'd never driven the car on studs on dry asphalt before, so I didn't know too much what to expect.

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...e-me-no-stress

**denkimi** · 29th January 2019, 15:06

Originally Posted by dimviii

"This is the best car I've ever driven, bar none," said Meeke. "It just felt so nice.

"Let's not forget I won this powerstage in the Citroen last year, but the line on that car was fine.

"In the Yaris, I feel I can squeeze everything from the car and push it hard and it's all there under me - there's no stress and no worries.

"I've been excited from the first stage. I'd never driven the car on studs on dry asphalt before, so I didn't know too much what to expect.

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...e-me-no-stress

i have to admit i did expect him to crash him in monte, he was a positive suprise.

but i still think he will crash often trying to beat tanak. let's see if the car is still so nice then.

**Fredouye** · 29th January 2019, 15:52

Hi all

Here are my photos from this 19' Monte Carlo : https://flic.kr/s/aHskRasRUy

(shakedown + 7 SS)

**dimviii** · 29th January 2019, 17:40

Portugal 80s

https://twitter.com/HartusvuoriWRC/s...03606828552193

**dimviii** · 29th January 2019, 17:51

https://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/janu...1--12-12-.html

“Okay, there have been rallies I enjoyed, where I showed good speed, but everything felt on a knife edge. This week, as we saw at shakedown, I was able immediately to get back in. I hadn’t been in that environment for nine months, so it was nice to know we still have a bit of speed.”

Meeke was full of praise for the Yaris, saying it reminded him of Citroën’s previous challenger with which he won three WRC rallies.

“For me the ingredients of this car are correct. It’s one of the best feelings I’ve had in a rally car - similar to the one I had in the DS 3 in 2016,” he explained.

“The exciting thing is I feel confident in the car right from the start and in these tricky conditions, so hopefully it will be better in the future.

"I'm happy. The [rally] result is not there but I come away knowing the speed is."

**dimviii** · 29th January 2019, 17:57

Originally Posted by Fredouye

Hi all

Here are my photos from this 19' Monte Carlo

like this one

**mknight** · 29th January 2019, 18:04

Originally Posted by denkimi

i have to admit i did expect him to crash him in monte, he was a positive suprise.

but i still think he will crash often trying to beat tanak. let's see if the car is still so nice then.

My crystal ball prediction is that one of Meeke/Latvala will struggle and it's quite likely when one of them struggles the other will do well. For Monte it was Meeke good, Latvala bad, let's see if that continues.

**Fredouye** · 29th January 2019, 18:05

Originally Posted by dimviii

like this one

Funny thing is that an hour before, gravel crew from Lappi stopped at this exact place, and tried to bend the stick with his foot...I guess he talked to Ogier before the start of the stage

**Norm75** · 29th January 2019, 18:24

Originally Posted by denkimi

i have to admit i did expect him to crash him in monte, he was a positive suprise.

but i still think he will crash often trying to beat tanak. let's see if the car is still so nice then.

I'm not convinced he will. Kris showed maturity in Monte.
I think we only really saw his raw speed on the first and last stages of the rally, with everything in between just focusing on getting in a rythym and staying on the road.

All Kris needs to focus on is outdriving Latvala, not Tanak as we all know he is the chosen one. Without punctures, this would easily have been achieved.
Kris seems relaxed and happy with the car. The last time we saw that, maybe the only time in his wrc career, was 2016, and we all know how well he drove that year.

**mknight** · 29th January 2019, 18:29

Don't mean to sound negative but 12 months ago I wrote long praise on how Meeke matured after getting 4th without issues in Monte. He didn't have top speed but kept it on the road and got decent results.