Hyundai or Toyota could throw Kris Meeke a WRC lifeline, with both expressing interest in signing him after he was sacked by Citroën for what the team called an "excessively high number of crashes", in the wake of a serious shunt in Portugal.
Sources close to the 38-year-old Ulsterman have said he is justifiably angry and upset at Citroën’s decision. He seems to have little chance of a return to the WRC this season but there could be openings for 2019.
Hyundai team manager Alain Penasse said he thought Meeke still had plenty to offer in the WRC, adding: "For the moment there's no contact with Meeke, but it depends on how the driver market is. There's no doubt that Kris Meeke is a driver who can win WRC events; he is very fast, but very inconsistent – we have seen this throughout his career which is going up and down.
"He's got the speed and he's not somebody you would have sitting on the bench. He's like Jari-Matti Latvala: a driver who's not so consistent, but will win you one or two rallies a year. We consider all drivers, especially guys who are free and on the market.”
Penasse admitted that Citroën’s somewhat improved form in 2018 meant the vacant seat was likely to attract attention for '19, including from drivers such as Dani Sordo and Hayden Paddon, both currently sharing outings in Hyundai's third i20 WRC this season.
"I can imagine there's going to be some interest in Meeke's seat now,” Penasse continued. “Last year Citroen wasn't really a danger, but now they have good results and I'm sure drivers will consider them.
"We have Dani and Hayden on limited programmes and if you offered another year of seven rallies against a full programme with Citroën, they would probably be quite interested in that. I don't think those guys will be happy to share a car again."
As for Toyota, Meeke had long talks with that team and was offered a deal in 2015 before he committed to Citroën. And Toyota boss Tommi Mäkinen admitted he would be interested in talking to Meeke again.
M-Sport Ford chief Malcolm Wilson said it was "sad" that the WRC was losing a rally winner and a British driver, "when we're making such good strides with rallying in this country.” But added he was "very happy" with his current driver line-up.
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