Quote Originally Posted by steve.mandzij View Post
Meeke hasn't been stellar this year but he's been far from the total Trainwreck everyone makes him out to be.
He had issues (puncture or crashes) in 8 out of 9 rallies, the only one where he didn't have an issue was Sweden where he ended 6th without pace. Sure Toyotas have had a few punctures this year, but Meeke had definitely most.

The main issue though is the "second crashes" when there is no real pressure: Corsica SS5, Portugal PS and Finland Sunday.

Again it's the same arguments: "he is fast", "he can win any rally". It is called World Rally Championship, the ultimate goal is not to win a rally or two a season, but to win the championship either for drivers or for teams. As a championship driver he is a trainwreck this year.
This is teampoints brought by drivers this year (note that drivers in 2-car teams have a bit of an advantage in this statistic):
1 Tänak 151
2 Ogier 134
3 Neuville 121
4 Evans 74 (-1 start)
5 Suninen 72
6 Lappi 64
7 Mikkelsen 63 (-2 starts)
8 Sordo 51 (-4 starts)
9 Meeke 44
10 Latvala 43
11 Loeb 12 27 (-4 starts)

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Anyway he has tough times ahead in next 2 rallies. His record in Germany is a disaster with 12th as best result with a crash in every WRC start and he has never driven in Turkey at this location.