Kris Meeke, a five-time winner in the World Rally Championship, will return to the Dakar Rally in January for a second attempt at the famous race.
Northern Ireland’s Meeke won numerous stages on his debut at the Dakar Rally in 2021 but his Zypher T3 was hit by a number of technical issues.
The 44-year-old will be reunited with Dutch navigator Wouter Rosegaar for his second outing at the event.
“I’m super happy to get a second attempt,” Meeke said.
The Dakar Rally will be held in Saudi Arabia from 5-19 January.
Meeke and Rosegaar will be competing in the same lightweight class, which has changed name from ‘T3’ to the ‘Challenger’ class and will drive a OT3 for the G Rally Team.
The pair had an eventful Dakar on Meeke’s debut in 2021. Despite winning the prologue stage, their Zypher T3 caught fire the following day in what was the first of a number of technical problems that stopped him contending for overall victory.
He was reserve driver for Toyota in last year’s event as he looked to gain more experience of the gruelling event.
Meeke last competed in the World Rally Championship in 2019 with Toyota. After his first Dakar experience, he has been testing for Skoda, raced in NitroCross and took part in the second half of the Portuguese Rally Championship last year, replacing his late friend Craig Breen for Hyundai.