WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP: Kris Meeke joins Toyota for 2019

Kris Meeke has been confirmed as part of a three-man factory Toyota team for the 2019 World Rally Championship.
Kris Meeke will be part of three-man Toyota team for 2019.Kris Meeke will be part of three-man Toyota team for 2019.
Kris Meeke will be part of three-man Toyota team for 2019.

The Dungannon man, who was sacked by Citroen after crashing in the Portugal Rally in May, replaces Citroen-bound Esapekka Lappi.

The 39-year-old will drive a Yaris WRC, with Seb Marshall or Dan Barritt linked with becoming his co-driver after the 39-year-old's split with Paul Nagle.

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News of his 11-year partnership with Nagle coming to an end was revealed on Tuesday, after Meeke had tested a Yaris for the first time in Finland.

"It's been a difficult few months for me but I wasn't that long away and I've got that hunger back," said Meeke.

"I knew deep down I wanted to come back to drive a rally car and to have my first experience of the Yaris on these stages, it just gives me so much pleasure to drive a car again.

"I have given my life to rally and rally has given me so much but certainly I didn't feel it was time to stop. I still think I can achieve a lot more in the sport and hopefully with this new exciting venture we can achieve good things together.

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"The negotiations were very simple and there were maybe some options on the table, but I said if I wanted to come back, I wanted to come back in the proper way. For me there was no doubt where I wanted to be."