Kris Meeke snagged his second podium of the World Rally Championship season for Team Abu Dhabi Citroen on Sunday, coming third at Rally Argentina.
The Scot ran third throughout the weekend and held off Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen in fourth by 23.6 seconds. He trailed second place Sebastien Ogier by 4 mins 27.8 secs and winner Jari-Matti Latvala by 5 mins 54.7 secs.
Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle claimed third as well at the season’s first race, Rally Monte Carlo, before being shut out at the next three races en reoute to their podium return on Sunday. Meeke finished with an overall time of 4 hrs 47 mins 19.5 secs.
“I was determined to get a good result at this Rally Argentina. I focused on driving as precisely as possible so as to not take any risks,” said Meeke in a press release. “I used every second I had to make sure of getting across the finish line.
“It was difficult but this is a fantastic result.”
Abu Dhabi Citroen teammate Mads Ostberg dropped out, suffering a hand injury that hindered his ability to continue on the final day. That followed a first-day crash that already had left him back in the pack.
“In the ruts on SS9 (stage 9), I got a bad kick back through the steering. On the last stage, I could only use my left hand on the steering wheel,” he said. “I hope the team doctor will be able to find a way of reducing the pain.”
Ostberg, third in the driver standings, was joined at 48 points by Mikkelsen while Meeke jumped up to sixth with 32 points.
Team Abu Dhabi Citroen now have 90 points in the manufacturer standings, trailing leaders Volkswagen Motorsport, who have 187.
The sixth race of the World Rally Championship season will see the competition move to Italy on June 5.
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
