Kris Meeke has confirmed Seb Marshall will be his co-driver for the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship.
Driving for the Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, Meeke will return to the sport alongside British co-driver Marshall after being fired from the Citroen Racing World Rally Team midway through 2018 after a string of poor results.
Marshall will co-drive for Meeke in his first full season campaign in the championship after previously being the long term partner of Hyundai driver Hayden Paddon.
Meeke said on his Facebook page: “Thanks for your patience over these past few weeks. I know things have gone a bit quiet since we did those early tests in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Yaris – but that’s because the team has been concentrating on Rally Australia and bringing home the rally victory and the manufacturer’s title.”
“Things are falling into place nicely for 2019 now, though, and things are going to begin again for me in earnest, so it’s good timing that we’ve announced today that my co-driver for 2019 will be Seb Marshall.”
Kris Meeke will join Toyota for 2019. Photo Credit: https://www.tgr-dam.com
Meeke also paid tribute to his former co-driver Paul Nagle and added: “As I mentioned when the Toyota deal was confirmed, I owe a great debt of thanks to my former navigator Paul Nagle. He and I went through highs and lows together, and he was a terrific companion over those times. I’ll always treasure our victories together in Argentina, Portugal, Finland, Mexico and Catalunya.”
“Next year represents a fresh challenge for me, though, so it’s a blank sheet of paper, with a new guy reading the pacenotes. I’ve actually known Seb for quite a long time, in fact, and we all know he’s right up there at the level.”
Meeke and Marshall’s first appearance for Toyota will be the 2019 Rallye Monte–Carlo, which takes place between January 24-27.
