Meeke leads ERC charge as McRae wins BRC Saturday at Rali Ceredigion

Kris Meeke leads the FIA European Rally Championship field by 20.5 seconds after Saturday at Rali Ceredigion, while Max McRae and Cameron Fair won the British Rally Championship contest in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and moved into the championship lead before Sunday’s fifth round.

Meeke capitalises on Suninen error

Meeke opened the day by winning Aberffrwd after Teemu Suninen half-spun at a slow-speed junction as rain began, costing the championship leader more than 10 seconds. Suninen said the loss of rear grip had not come as a surprise.

Teemu Suninen said: “It started to rain and I just lost the rear at a slow-speed junction. It was not a surprise.”

The second Saturday stage was cancelled because of problems with the safety radio network. Meeke then faced changing surfaces through the opening test, but held the advantage. Kris Meeke said: “There were different surface changes that I didn’t pick up on the recce, and it nearly caught me out. What a stage. Absolutely fantastic.”

After SS6, Meeke led Miko Marczyk by 11.9 seconds, with Suninen 12.7 seconds behind, Jakub Matulka fourth at 22.5 seconds, Andrea Mabellini fifth at 26.5 seconds and McRae sixth at 35.0 seconds. Meirion Evans and Osian Pryce followed in seventh and eighth.

Suninen reduced Meeke’s lead to 7.0 seconds by midday service, but Meeke won three further stages to end the day 20.5 seconds clear. Kris Meeke said: “probably one of the most enjoyable days of Tarmac rallying.”

Suninen said he had settled on protecting his position rather than pursuing the leader. Teemu Suninen said: “It’s tempting to push…but I realised we have the pace to match, not to catch.”

Suninen can secure the FIA European Rally Championship title on Sunday by finishing second or better if Mabellini is seventh or lower and takes no more than one Power Stage point.

McRae withstands Pryce challenge

In the British Rally Championship contest, McRae and Fair extended their overnight lead over Pryce. Evans won the opening Saturday stage, before McRae replied on the first pass of Cwm Elan to leave the Castrol MEM team-mates separated by 0.1 seconds after stage seven.

Pryce posted consecutive scratch times after the midday service, reducing McRae’s advantage to 4.3 seconds. McRae held the lead through the final two Aberystwyth street stages to take round four victory.

Max McRae said: “It’s been a brilliant battle. Thanks to Osian for the fight, I’m sure there will be another one tomorrow.”

McRae added: “If it wasn’t for that crazy push in stage ten, we wouldn’t have done it. It’s been a big challenge, but we have really enjoyed it.”

McRae also ended Saturday fifth in the ERC standings, his best result in the championship. In ERC3, Ville Vatanen led Casey Jay Coleman by 2.6 seconds after five stages and could secure the title in Wales.

Kalum Graffin won BRC3 by more than 90 seconds despite a puncture. Oran England claimed victory on his Junior BRC debut after recovering a 15-second deficit to Constantine, while Alfie Hammond took his first National Rally maximum points after Richmond-Hand and Paterson retired on the final stage.