MINI WRC Team drops local man Kris Meeke

It has emerged that Dungannon driver, Kris Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle will not compete in the 2012 World Rally Championship. This follows recent news that their team, Prodrive-managed MINI WRC had failed to apply for the chamionship on time.

Both MINI and Prodrive have failed to officially comment, however news has filtered out through various social media. Appearing to defend the decision, Prodrive said on their Facebook fan page: "The reality of financing a rally team today is very different and more complex than it was in years gone by. The last three years' effort put in by the team here to get to where we are today with a very competitive car, has certainly not been half-hearted. We would like Kris to be competing in every event next year, he is an exceptional driver, that is why he is still part of the team and why we will run him on every event possible in 2012."

This comment seems to confirm the theory that that the BMW-backed team had run out of money for the 2012 season. His place in the MINI WRC car is likely to be sold to whatever crew brings the most cash with them. Meeke, whose car was plagued by mechanical problems last season, particularly during Rally d'Italia Sardegna is just one year into his three-year contract with the team.

Kris Meeke studied Mechanical Engineering at Queens University in Belfast before embarking on a career in motorsport design engineering but fortune led him into a professional career as a rally driver after winning a young talent competition in 2000.

He went on to win the British Junior Championship, mentored by the legendary Colin McRae and started a successful term in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship. Two years ago, Kris and co-driver Paul Nagle entered the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, winning in Brazil, Portugal, Belgium and San Remo before winning the overall title.