Stories of 2015: Meeke's maiden win
We're rewinding to Sunday 26 April for our next 'story of 2015' nominee - the day when Kris Meeke scored his maiden win in the WRC at XION Rally Argentina.
The Northern Irishman led the four-day gravel rally for all but a handful of kilometres in his DS 3, ending a torrid start to the season in which he crashed in the first three rounds.
He ended the first leg with more than a minute’s lead and measured his pace over incredibly rocky conditions which sidelined many frontrunners to finally reach the top step of the podium on his 58th start.
For Meeke it was a landmark victory. Not only the culmination of a WRC career that had started back in 2003, but also a result with national significance, as he became the first British driver to win a world rally since 2002.
The late Colin McRae was the last British winner at Kenya’s Safari Rally and the Scot had mentored 35-year-old Meeke through the early part of his career.
It was support Meeke was quick to acknowledge, by dedicating his win to the 1995 World Champion.
“The one guy who did most for me isn’t here to see this. This is for Colin. He helped my career out at the very beginning.
"He supported me financially through to the world championship. Without his support I wouldn’t be here,” said an emotional Meeke.
