Nagle’s replacement: ‘I’ve got big shoes to fill’

PAUL Nagle’s replacement alongside Kris Meeke for the 2019 World Rally Championship season has admitted he has big shoes to fill.

Meeke and Nagle ended their 11-year partnership at the sport’s highest level last October when it was announced that the Tyrone man would return to the WRC after being offered a drive with the Toyota Gazoo World Rally Team.

Earlier in the 2018 season, their contract with Citroen was unexpectedly terminated after an accident on Rally Portugal in May.

The pair went to ground after that but in early October it was announced that Meeke had secured the third 2019 Toyota seat but that he and the Killarney man had decided to go their separate ways in what was always described as an amicable split.

At the time, Meeke thanked the Killarney man, but said the time was right for a “fresh start”.

He said: “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.”

Before the Christmas break, it was announced that English man Seb Marshal would occupy the right-hand seat in the Toyota Yaris World Rally Car for the 2019 season.

The World Rally Championship was officially launched at the Autosport International exhibition in Birmingham, England, last weekend.

Prior to the show Marshal said: “I’ll be stepping into a seat with some big shoes to fill, but I’m hugely excited by the prospect of working with Kris and the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team.”

Rallye Monte Carlo, the opening round of the 2019 WRC, gets underway next Thursday from Gap in the southern French Alps.

Nagle has not ruled out a return to the WRC alongside another driver. Several offers were on the table before the Christmas break but he was unable to commit due to family reasons.

Kerry Motor Club AGM

Kerry Motor Club’s Annual General meeting will take place next Sunday, January 20 at 5 pm in The Rose Hotel, Tralee - further details are available from club secretary Stephen O’Connell on secretary@kerrymotorclub.com or 087 6987175 - new members welcome to attend.