Hopkirk tips Meeke for stardom.

by Rob Wilkins

British rallying legend, Patrick Hopkirk has backed fellow Ulsterman Kris Meeke to make it to the top of the WRC.

Speaking to Crash.net Radio, while promoting his book, 'The Paddy Hopkirk story - a dash of the Irish', the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally winner added that in his view Meeke, who is contesting the Junior WRC this year in a Citroen C2, is 'lights years ahead of his competitors'.

"I am very fond of [Kris] Meeke," he replied when asked who he currently rates in the WRC.

"About five years ago, I picked him as being light years ahead of his competitors - without insulting his competitors. I don't mean to do that.

"But he was very outstanding, not just as a driver, but as a personality too. I opened the Ulster Motor Show the other day and I met him again - and what a nice young man he is. He is very young, but I would like to see my fellow countrymen do well and come up, because there are not very many people in Northern Ireland.

"I think it is 1.6 or 1.7 million people but, pro-rata, there are a lot of very enthusiastic drivers, because the sport over there is very important, like football or soccer is very important in England. Motorsport is very important in Northern Ireland - all of Ireland in fact.

"It is a bit like Finland - if you are a good rally driver in Finland, you become very well known - and I would think the same happens in Northern Ireland a little bit."

'The Paddy Hopkirk story - a dash of the Irish' is available in all good book stores now, published by Haynes and priced ?18.99.