Meeke wins Rali Ceredigion on ERC return
· Yahoo Sports
Kris Meeke dominated Rali Ceredigion in Wales to win on his first European Rally Championship appearance in 18 years.
The 47-year-old and co-driver Noel O'Sullivan won by 38.6 seconds ahead of Finland's Teemu Suninen, who won the title with a round to spare.
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"What a weekend, a big thanks to everyone who got me here," Toyota driver Meeke said after the rally.
"What an incredible job from the team and it's so enjoyable. To feel like that in the car and get in the flow state, I really feel at home so II'm delighted."
Northern Ireland's Meeke was making a first ERC outing since he competed at Rally Poland in 2006.
Rali Ceredigion was a joint round of the European and British Rally Championships, and Max McRae, nephew of the late rally legend Colin, took top BRC honours as the Australian finished fourth overall behind Meeke, Suninen and Poland's Mikolaj Marczyk.
Wales' Meirion Evans was an impressive fifth, while Osian Pryce was forced to retire from his home event with a mechanical issue on the 14th stage.
Meeke, a five-time winner in the World Rally Championship, last competed on the global stage in 2019 but has remained active in recent years.
He won the Portuguese Rally Championship in 2025 and put in a strong performance at the Donegal International Rally in June.
Meeke set the early pace on the opening two stages on Friday but Suninen responded to take the lead of the rally overnight.
But Toyota driver Meeke reclaimed top spot by posting the fastest time on Saturday morning's opening stage, and it was a lead he would not relinquish.
When asked if it was a new chapter in his career in the European Rally Championship, Meeke said "I've had many stories in my career".
"I enjoy to drive and when the package is right I still believe I can drive," Meeke said.
"A big shout-out to Noel on the notes, this is one of the most technical difficult rallies for a co-driver and it was a top job".
Northern Ireland's William Creighton did not compete in Wales after an accident in the previous round in the Czech Republic left co-driver Liam Regan with a fractured leg.