Kris Meeke targets 2009 IRC title over wins

Kris Meeke will target the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title over wins when he contests the series in the Kronos Racing run Peugeot UK 207 S2000, according to Motorsport News.

Meeke will contest nine events in the IRC next year and has vowed to exert caution to ensure he maximasises his points haul and avoids making costly errors.

Meeke told MN:

When I go to places such as Ypres or Sanremo I've got to remember I'll be up against people like Freddy Loix and Giandomenico Basso [respectively].

They'll be very difficult to beat on those events so you will have to accept second or third place. But it could still be good enough to win a championship and that's what matters most.

People have said I was erratic during my JWRC days but I was stuck in a quandry. Because I thought people weren't looking at me I tried to go faster and ended up crashing. I should have been trying to concentrate on winning the championship instead and I'll be fully aware of that next year because I know people will be looking at who won the title, not how many fastest stage times they had."

Meeke concedes he has scarce knowledge of the majority of events on the 2009 calendar although he's determined not to be fazed by the prospect.

There are some events that will be new for everyone and I'll have to appreciate a lot of [my rivals] have been here for two years now. But Scotland [the final round of the championship] should be a different story.

It's an all new event and it's kind of home territory for me because I've lived in Scotland and I've always gone well when I've competed there."

Based on Kronos Racing's current schedule, Meeke will miss the rounds in Russia and Japan. However, if not competing in Japan proved detrimental to Kronos's title chances, Meeke could be entered for the Japanese fixture as well.

Kris Meeke's 2009 IRC progamme

• 21-24 January Monaco Monte Carlo Rally
• 05-07 March Brazil Rally Internacional de Curitiba
• 07-09 May Portugal Sata Rally Acores
• 18-20 June Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally
• 30 July-01 August Madeira Rali Vinho Madeira
• 21-23 August Czech Republic Barum Rally Zlin
• 10-12 September Spain Rally Principe de Asturias
• 24-26 September Italy Rally Sanremo
• 19-21 November United Kingdom RAC MSA Rally of Scotland

motorsport_news Kris Meeke targets 2009 IRC title over wins