But their paths since the days when they were team-mates in Citroen's junior squad have gone in completely different directions.

At the end of last year Meeke came home to Dungannon - "back to the real world," he said - and initially washed his hands of rallying. Disillusioned by teams which he said wanted to know what was in your wallet before they looked at your CV, he quit completely.

He acknowledges now that if it hadn't been for Kenny McKinstry and sponsor Kevin Barrett of Triton Showers, he would probably still be on the sidelines.

However, with the support of Barrett, McKinstry talked him into driving his Subaru on the Circuit of Ireland (which he led before retiring) and the Rally of the Lakes (which he won).

Another stroke of fortune saw him called in to substitute for British champion Mark Higgins in Derek McGarrity's Pirelli-backed Subaru on the Ulster Rally - and again he won.

From there led the opportunity to return to the world scene on Rally Ireland with McGarrity's DMG team providing him with the Subaru in which Eugene Donnelly won the Irish Tarmac champion for a fourth time this year.

It will see Meeke make his first World championship appearance since Rally GB last December - a rally which in many defined his time with the Citroen junior team.

Once again he led the JWRC category by a wide margin only, inexplicably, to crash out.

Studies of the JWRC statistics will show that he set more fastest times than any other driver in the previous two years but failed to win the Junior World title. He was the quickest driver but mistakes were made, not all of them his.

Team-mate Sordo, more consistent, took the title at his first attempt and when it came to the big decision, he got the call to partner Sebastien Loeb in the full Citroen team.

It can be argued that Sordo had more 'political' clout than Meeke, and the support of the Spanish motorsport authorities as well as former World champion Carlos Sainz, a Citroen adviser, but, like Loeb, he had the Junior World title on his CV.

Now, as a fully-fledged Citroen works professional, he comes to Ireland with the role of supporting Loeb at a critical time in the French ace's bid to become champion for a fourth time.

He'll get a warm Ulster welcome from Meeke.

They have remained pals and it was to Meeke that Sordo turned to for advice when he came to the final round of the Irish Tarmac championship in Cork at the end of last month for a Rally Ireland 'preview'.

He did well, finishing a strong second behind team leader Loeb.

"Dani's performance didn't surprise me at all," says Meeke. " He phoned a couple of times before the rally and we talked about what he could expect.

"We talked again afterwards and he said the experience had been so worthwhile, especially as Rally Ireland looks like being decisive in the destiny of the World championship.

"Whether it is Sebastien or Marcus Gronholm who wins it may well be decided by Dani and the Ford No.2 Mikko Hirvonen.

"If they can take points away from the other team leader it may make all the difference and, on a tarmac event like Rally Ireland, Dani is superb. In fact I'd say he's every bit as fast as Sebastien.

"It is going to be a fascinating finish."

Meeke has no illusions about being part of that battle at the front.

"I'm driving a good car, a Subaru S12, but it is nothing like the C4 Citroens or the 07 Ford Focuses," he says. "They are the full works cars with enormous back-up and the latest in every type of technology.

"Add in Subaru and there are six full works cars in the field plus another six or seven which have M2 (manufacturer second team) status with professional drivers.

"We are pure privateers and against that kind of opposition just getting into the top 10 will be difficult. But that has to be the target.

"I would love to be racing against Dani again but you have to be realistic. He was difficult enough to beat when we were both in equal cars but on this rally its not possible.

"I'll be watching what he's doing but beating him? That's not even on my radar."

It says everything about how their paths have separated.

FELIPE Massa grabbed pole position for his home Brazilian Grand Prix - but Lewis Hamilton remains in the perfect position to take the Formula One world title.

Massa thrilled his home fans at the Interlagos circuit with a searing lap in his Ferrari in the final qualifying session - and he will lead away the field for the ninth time in his career.

Alongside him on the front row of the grid will be championship leader Hamilton for McLaren - with title rivals Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso directly behind him, just as he would want it.

For Hamilton, starting second on the grid is as good as being on pole with only Massa ahead of him, and with the 26-year-old out of the title picture.

With the race for the crown a three-horse affair for the first time in 21 years, Hamilton's performance will delight the 22-year-old, with Alonso four points behind him and Raikkonen seven.

At least the trio will take comfort that today's end-of-season showdown will unfold in glorious sunshine, unlike in the last two races in Japan and China which have been dominated by rain.

In perfect qualifying conditions, Massa produced a blistering display in Q3 with a lap of one minute 11.931secs, edging out Hamilton by 0.151secs.

Hamilton blew his first chance of wrapping up the championship in Shanghai a fortnight ago when he slid off into a pit lane gravel trap on seriously-worn tyres.

But the 22-year-old is determined to grab his second opportunity with both hands and become the first rookie, and the youngest driver to win the world championship.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis admitted it would have been nice to have one of his team's drivers on pole.

But he was happy with the quality of the performances.

"We will be trying to win the world championship with one of our drivers," he confirmed, adding that he is now hoping for a "good clean fight and a good conclusion to the world championship".

A smiling Hamilton said: "It was very close.

"I really enjoyed the qualifying session. The car was good to drive, and I produced a good lap - losing a little bit of time in the last corner.

"But apart from that, I'm very happy. It's a good place to start."

He added: "I'm just buzzing. I'm really excited. I feel very relaxed, the car is great and I love the circuit.

"There are quite a lot of British flags out there, so I'm glad I have a lot of support."

Regarding Friday's first practice when McLaren illegally used two sets of wet tyres on Hamilton's car and picked up a £10,500 fine, he insisted: " It wasn't down to me. I sit in the car and do what I'm told. We got a fine. Fortunately, I don't have to pay for it."

Massa, who won the race here last year from pole position, said: "It's a fantastic qualifying. It was a good lap - and to be here in front of my home people, there is real emotion.

"The atmosphere is always the same; it's amazing."

Raikkonen knows he faces a tricky situation, because he has to finish first or second and hope Hamilton is sixth or worse.

"The tyres will be on the limit - so whoever uses them the best way will come out on top, and then we will see what happens," remarked the Finn.

Behind Alonso on the grid come Mark Webber for Red Bull Racing, followed by Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica in their BMW Saubers.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli, David Coulthard for Red Bull and Nico Rosberg for Williams will start from eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello missed out on a place in the top 10 on home turf by 0.044secs, and will start 11th.

The 35-year-old at least managed to out-qualify Honda team-mate Jenson Button for the first time in seven races as the Briton is down in 16th.

In between are Giancarlo Fisichella for Renault, Sebastian Vettel and Vitantonio Liuzzi for Toro Rosso, along with Ralf Schumacher in his final race with Toyota.

Surprisingly, Heikki Kovalainen will start from 17th for Renault, his worst qualifying performance since the Canadian Grand Prix in June.

That will serve as a major disappointment for the Finn, especially as there are rumours test driver Nelson Piquet Jnr is to be given a race seat for next year.

Behind Kovalainen on the grid will be three Japanese drivers in Super Aguri's Takuma Sato (18th), Kazuki Nakajima (19th) on his debut for Williams and Spyker's Sakon Yamamoto (22nd).

Separating Nakajima and Yamamoto are Anthony Davidson for Super Aguri and Adrian Sutil in his Spyker.

Subject to the approval of the other team bosses, Spyker will be renamed Force India F1 for 2008 following the recent takeover by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya and Dutchman Michiel Mol.