The Mini World Rally Team withdrew its entry from this weekend's Rally Estonia after it was found there was more damage to the test car than originally thought following Kris Meeke's accident earlier this week. Meeke damaged the left-hand side of the car when he clouted a rock on Monday. The team re-prepared the car in time for the former Intercontinental Rally Challenge winner to return to the wheel later that day - and for his team-mate Dani Sordo to complete two further days of running - but it will not start in Estonia.
Meeke said: “Obviously, I’m disappointed to be missing out on competitive event mileage before Rally Finland, but it’s the team’s decision.”
Rally Estonia would have been Meeke’s second start in a Mini John Cooper Works WRC and he admits he needs more competitive seat time having retired from the Rally d’Italia with a throttle problem on the opening day.
[Source:
Autosport.com/
MaxRally]
