The iRally.com domain is for sale. Any interested parties should telephone/WhatsApp: UNDER OFFER ( June 2025).

Other rally / motorsport related items for sale include:

- rallypr.com
- motorsportpr.com
- nirally.com
- rallyprep.com

Please use the contact details above if interested.

Ireland’s Paul Nagle has taken over the role of co-driver to Volkswagen works driver Andreas Mikkelsen (N) at the Rally Australia.

Nagle is standing in for Mikko Markkula (FIN), who is currently recovering from two injured vertebrae. The Norwegian/Finnish duo had to withdraw from last week’s Rally Germany at the last minute, as Markkula’s injury was too severe to allow him to start at Volkswagen’s home event. In order to give Markkula sufficient time to recover fully, Nagle has agreed to take the Finn’s place in the passenger seat of the number 9 Polo R WRC.

Nagle is no unknown quantity for Mikkelsen. The pair have known each other since they went head to head at the Rally Ireland in 2007. Back then, Nagle was co-driver to Britain’s Kris Meeke, with whom he won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in 2009. Coincidentally, Markkula won the co-driver competition in the IRC the following year, while Mikkelsen claimed back-to-back victories in the IRC Drivers’ Championship in 2011 and 2012.

“We are pleased to have found such a competent replacement so soon after Mikko’s withdrawal,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “Paul has a wealth of rallying experience and, with his professional approach, will definitely meet our expectations. We wish Mikko a speedy recovery. He can now take his time and concentrate fully on ensuring he gets back to full fitness. As soon as he has recovered from his injury, he will take his place next to Andreas again.”

“It is obviously a great shame that Mikko will also be missing for the Rally Australia. However, the good news is that we have found a good replacement,” added Mikkelsen. “For me, it was important to find a co-driver, with whom I can communicate in English in the cockpit. Mikko and I changed the style of our pace notes ahead of this season, and both switched from our native language to English. It is an advantage for me not to have to change language again.”

The Rally Australia (12-15 September) is the tenth round of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship. After five wins from nine rallies, Volkswagen works driver Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia (both F) lead the Drivers’ Championship, with team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) in third place. Volkswagen also leads the Manufacturers’ Championship.

Andreas Mikkelsen and Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) have had to withdraw from the Rally Germany for health reasons.

A diagnosis prior to the start of the Rally Germany revealed that co-driver Mikko Markkula had fractured his seventh vertebra and partially fractured his eighth vertebra, presumably during the Rally Finland three weeks ago.

Based on these findings, Volkswagen Motorsport took the decision to withdraw Mikkelsen/Markkula for health and safety reasons.

Mikko Markkula had complained of back problems during the Rally Finland, but these had eased off after the rally. However, the pain returned during Monday’s “Recce”. The team decided to send Markkula for an MRI scan, which ultimately confirmed that the Finn would have to withdraw for health reasons.

“Safety comes first, particularly when it comes to Mikko Markkula’s health,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “The fractured vertebrae were not easy to diagnose, which is why we took our time to ensure that we made the right decision.”

“It would have been too risky to send Andreas Mikkelsen out with a co-driver, alongside whom he has not driven a single metre prior to the rally and who did not take part in the ‘Recce’. Andreas has changed his style of pace note this season, and Mikko is the only co-driver familiar with them. Unfortunately they must both withdraw from the Rally Germany and are very disappointed. Everyone in the team has their fingers crossed that Mikko will make a speedy recovery.”

Mikko Markkula, Polo R WRC #9
“I suffered severe back pains on the Sunday of the Rally Finland. We assumed it was muscular tension. The pain eased off after the rally, just as the doctors had said it would. However, it has returned over the past few days and I went to see Dr. Johannes Peil on Tuesday evening for a more accurate MRI scan. It was then that we determined I had fractured the two vertebrae. Nobody had considered that possibility, and it was obviously a shock because it meant we would have to withdraw from the rally at the last minute. We are really disappointed. I also feel sorry for the team, for whom we wanted to get a good result at our home rally. I am now hoping to get back to full fitness as soon as possible.”

After strong performances in their first outing in the DS3 WRC in Finland, Kris Meeke and Chris Patterson have been chosen to team up with Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen in the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team for Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour on 13-15 September.

The fastest rally on the calendar proved tricky for Dani Sordo, who was not able to find the right rhythm to make it into the leading places. Sorely lacking in confidence on gravel, the Spanish driver has agreed with Citroën Racing that he will sit out the next round in order to try and take a step back and find some form on the surface away from pressure.

Kris Meeke put in a much-praised performance in Finland in his first outing in the DS3 WRC, despite crashing off at the end of the rally. The Irish driver, who has come through our promotional formulas and is responsible for the development of our client-competition cars, was the natural choice to race for Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team alongside Mikko Hirvonen in the tenth round of the World Championship.

“We have to acknowledge that we have had better seasons,” concedes Yves Matton, Managing Director of Citroën Racing. “It is difficult to take decisions like this, but sometimes you have to change something to reenergise the team and get back to winning ways. This decision, which was made with Dani, will allow us to work on our difficulties and move in the right direction. Kris showed what he could do in Finland with an excellent performance and high motivation levels. So we instinctively turned to him to take over in Australia.”

“We are really very happy that Citroën have put their faith in us again after our performance at Rally Finland,” said a delighted Kris Meeke. “For us, this is an incredible opportunity to take part in the rally as part of Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team alongside Mikko and Jarmo, and we are determined to give of our best.”

It’s looking likely that another opportunity for Kris Meeke to drive the Citroen DS3 WRC that he used at last weekend’s Rally Finland is on the cards.

Sheikh Khalid al Qassimi, who asked the Dungannon driver to take his place for the Finnish event, posted on his Twitter account this morning…

Chances may come & go, yet Kris deserves them – that’s how he’ll grow. @krismeeke to you and all your fans I’m thinking of another chance.

— Khalid F Al Qassimi (@khalidbinfaisal) August 8, 2013

Meeke was lying in an impressive fifth overall in Finland, comfortably ahead of Citroen works driver Dani Sordo and just behind Mikko Hirvonen, when he rolled out of the rally during the penultimate stage.

Until that happened, he had been in stunning form on what is one of the most challenging events in the WRC calendar.

Here’s hoping for some more promising news for the Dungannon driver in the not too distant future…