Meeke makes WRC
return...
in a
Bentley!

Just when spectators on stage two of last week’s Wales Rally GB were preparing for the world’s fastest drivers to tackle the Hafren Sweet Lamb run for a second time, a Bentley Continental Sport GT burst into view.

Strange as it might sound, it actually happened with former factory MINI driver Kris Meeke at the wheel. However, Meeke wasn’t taking part in the event proper but instead helping to film a feature for the Top Gear television show, which attracts millions of viewers around the world.

Meeke, who gave Top Gear presenter James May a ride in the standard road-going machine, said: “Driving the car through there was amazing. It really grew on me as we went through the stage. It’s such a strong car, we hit a couple of bumps and it just took them. But thank God it was dry! It would have been a nightmare trying to stop it in the wet. We had a couple of moments and seeing 190kph on the clock was a bit hairy, but it was a lot of fun.”

Jari-Matti Latvala was the fastest driver through the 24.87-kilometre stage in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC in a tie of 14m44.9s. Meeke’s time won’t be revealed until the programme is screened for the first time in the UK early next year.