Toyota team boss Tommi Mäkinen has spoken of the possibility of giving Kris Meeke another tilt at the WRC in a Yaris in 2019.
It's looking increasingly likely that Toyota will need a replacement for Esapekka Lappi next season with last year's Rally Finland winner said to be closing fast on a move to Citroën. What's more is Mäkinen said he has already spoken to Meeke about the potential for a 2019 deal.
"I spoke with Kris,” Tommi said. “He could be one option, one possibility. We will speak in Japan and we look at different options. We had a telephone conversation just recently. For sure Kris is very fast driver, sometimes even too fast. But I think he is at the right age, experience and everything. I'm pretty sure he could do well."
The Irishman was dropped by Citroën, for whom he scored five victories, after crashing out of Rally Portugal in May. Since then he has not been seen at a rally but will be back in a car and on an event at next month's Rally Legend, where he is scheduled to drive an as-yet-undisclosed ex-Colin McRae car in San Marino. However, he has maintained a low profile and would not take calls on the Toyota connection.
Toyota has already confirmed a deal with Ott Tänak for next season and Jari-Matti Latvala is reckoned to be on the verge of agreeing terms. But Lappi is close to jumping ship. He has recently visited Citroën’s factory and his management team negotiating with the French outfit. He would not reveal which way he would go but did say: "In my mind, I know what I am doing next year. I have made up my mind."
Mäkinen’s only concern with signing Meeke centred on how he would work with Tanak.
"This is the thing: I know that Kris is a driver who is wanting to win,” he added. “A lot. And we have a driver already who wants to win. A lot. What could the combination be? But I think this is not a big drama. We will see what is happening, but for sure Kris is a fast driver."
Meeke came close to signing for Mäkinen when Toyota offered him a deal in 2015, but eventually stayed with Citroën.
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