Meeke back in the WRC with Toyota as Lappi switches to Citroën Racing

Oct 17, 2018

Ulster driver joins Toyota Gazoo Racing for 2019 with Lappi now alongside Ogier.

Word on the street is that Irish driver Craig Breen is set to join M-Sport Ford

Kris Meeke is back in the World Rally Championship as Esapekka Lappi makes the move to Citroën Racing.

Meeke was replaced at Citroen midway through the current season but has been handed a WRC lifeline by Toyota Gazoo Racing boss Tommi Mäkinen for 2019.

Lappi, meanwhile, is seen as one of the sport’s rising stars and leaves Toyota Gazoo Racing after the current campaign in a bid to learn from new Citroën teammate Sébastien Ogier.

Both drivers have the same goal at their respective teams, namely to be world champion. Meeke said: “The fact Tommi has been there, he’s done it, he’s one of the most successful drivers ever in the WRC with four back-to-back world titles, he knows what it takes from a driver’s point of view. When that guy is your boss it’s very easy to relate.”

Meeke, though, will not have alongside him long-term co-driver Paul Nagle, with Seb Marshall tipped to take over that role instead.

Lappi, meanwhile, is hopeful of leaning on the expertise of five-time world champion Ogier for his 2019 campaign.

“It’s a good opportunity for me to keep improving,” said the Finn, who is fourth with two rounds remaining of the 2018 WRC campaign. “After learning many things from Jari-Matti Latvala last year and from Ott Tänak this year, I’ll have everything it takes to be even better if I also manage to draw inspiration from Seb.”

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