Kris Meeke has singled out performances by Juho Hänninen and Andreas Mikkelsen on the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, describing them as “very, very impressive”.
The former Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion was speaking following his visit to the second stage of the event, which passed less than two kilometres from his home near Dungannon in Northern Ireland.
“It was the first time I’ve watched a rally in a long, long time and I have to say I was very, very impressed with what I saw,” said Meeke, who won the IRC title in 2009 driving for Peugeot UK. “Hänninen and Mikkelsen are definitely on top of their games and you can argue that nobody else in the world are as quick as they are in Super 2000 cars.”
Hänninen eventually won the event, his ninth victory in the IRC, with Mikkelsen claiming second in a similar ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.