Al-Qassimi hints at further Meeke outings

Khalid Al-Qassimi has hinted that Kris Meeke could get a second outing for the Abu Dhabi Citroen Total team this season on the back of his impressive performance in Finland at the weekend.

Despite being away from the World Rally Championship for well over twelve months, Meeke produced a fine performance on the Finnish stages having been given the chance to compete in place of Al-Qassimi, who had commitments elsewhere.

Former MINI man Meeke was on the pace from the outset on his first outing in the DS3 WRC and comprehensively outperformed fellow Citroen man Dani Sordo to run fifth before rolling out of the event on the penultimate test.

That pace could yet lead to Meeke getting a second chance later this year, with Al-Qassimi expected to miss further events before the year is at an end.

"Chances may come and go, yet Kris deserves them - that's how he'll grow," Al Qassimi wrote on his Twitter account. "Kris, to you and all your fans, I'm thinking of another chance."

Even if an opportunity doesn't arrive this year, Al-Qassimi suggested that Meeke had put himself firmly into contention for a drive for 2014.

"He did an excellent job and I wasn't surprised," he told Gulf News. "He was up there with Mikko and much quicker than Dani, and he's given us a lot to think about. Our first priority is to get the best we can out of our drivers for the rest of the season, and we need to be on the podium. But already we're looking ahead to next season, and Kris could get more chances.

"He's a very good driver, that's why we picked him. We considered several drivers, but decided Kris would be the best choice and he proved us right. It was just unfortunate that he didn't get the finish he deserved. I really felt for him, especially as I rolled in the same car in the Acropolis Rally."