ERC Kenotek by CID LINES Ypres Rally Day Report: Loix gives ŠKODA Fabia R5 its maiden ERC victory in Ypres

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* Freddy Loix wins Kenotek by CID LINES Ypres Rally for record 10th time
* Aleks Zawada comes from third to first during dramatic ERC Junior final stage
* Romain Dumas wins Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy

Freddy Loix came from almost 30 seconds behind to score a sensation 10th win on the Kenotek by CID LINES Ypres Rally, and in doing so gave the brand new ŠKODA Fabia R5 victory on its FIA European Rally Championship debut.

Co-driven by Johan Gitsels, Loix had to adapt his driving style to make up for a lack of mechanical grip with his new BMA-run car, which struggled to find the required grip coming out of the many tight T-junctions. Having been tipped as pre-event hot favourite, Loix was fifth overnight, 25.8 seconds behind the leader after seven stages. His first of five stage wins was only registered on SS9. But Loix gradually closed the gap on the cars ahead, and victory was assured when Craig Breen retired after SS12, Stéphane Lefebvre picked up a puncture on the same stage and leader Bryan Bouffier was forced to stop to change a puncture on SS15. Loix also scored maximum ERC Asphalt Masters points.

“We started not so quick, with a new car that we had to get used to,” said Loix. “It was not such a good feeling to start off with changing direction, but we worked very hard as a team and step-by-step we did it. To win the Ypres Rally for a tenth time is pretty special. For a 45-year old driver, twentieth time here, against all these young drivers, is not so bad! It is a highlight of my career.”

Bouffier had driven brilliantly in his Citroën DS3 R5, and despite the attacked by Loix held the lead by 1.4 seconds entering SS15. Such had been his pace, that even though he lost two minutes with his mid-stage tyre change, he still finished second, 1m 27.5s behind.

Vincent Verschueren put previous Ypres Rally bad luck behind him to finish third on his home round of the ERC. He had a nervous run to the finish, as his Citroën DS3 R5 had lost first gear – although he didn’t reveal that until the end of the final stage, as he didn’t want his rivals to know.

Craig Breen had been leading the event by 12.6s in his Peugeot Rally Academy 208 T16, until he picked up a puncture and lost 15s and the lead to Bouffier on SS11. Worse was to happen on the following stage, when he slipped off the road on a left-hand corner and into a field. Having lost over 30 seconds, he arrived at the end of the stage with his car’s radiator full of vegetation and the water temperature reading 155°C. Unfortunately, the car then refused to start, and he was forced to retire. Despite this, Breen’s three wins sees him maintain his ERC lead.

On his first Tarmac rally for eight months, Bruno Magalhães drove brilliantly in his Peugeot 208 T16. The Portuguese driver acted as dust sweeper by running first on the road during leg two, but never put a foot wrong on his way to a fine fourth.

After a brilliant first Ypres Rally in a four-wheel drive car, Stéphane Lefebvre was in third position in his Peugeot 208 T16, just 1.3s off the lead, when he picked up a front right puncture six kilometres into Hollebeke, which, at 23.23 kilometres, was the longest test of the event. The Frenchman lost over three minutes and with it all hope of victory, yet he still managed to finish fifth – just ahead of Jaroslav Orsák, who survived intercom problems in his ŠKODA Fabia S2000.

Josh Moffett battled with an early misfire and brake problems in his Fiesta RRC, and was about to finish seventh when he crashed out on the final stage. His brother Sam was going well, although he retired on a road section out of service today, when an electrical problem cause his water pump to fail and, with the water temperature rising, he had to park his identical Ford to avoid damaging the engine. Jaromír Tarabus lost a minute with a rear left puncture on SS11, after he clipped a bank in his ŠKODA Fabia S2000, although an otherwise good run saw the Czech driver finish seventh.

Didier Duquesne, who put his Fiesta R5 into a ditch for one minute on SS9 and then survived a huge spin on SS11, initially came home eighth, but was later excluded after a discrepancy at a time control (TC 17C). This allowed a typically hard-charging Marty McCormack to move up to eighth, after an eventful rally which saw his Fabia S2000 in various fields and ditches from time to time! Had Davy Vanneste not lost over two minutes when a turbo pipe came off his Fiesta R5 on SS2, he feels he would have beaten his sixth placed finish of last year, yet he was pleased with ninth. Euan Thorburn’s first visit to Ypres had its fair share of overshoots, as the fast and often unsighted junctions caught the Scottish champion out. Only a last minute transmission problem denied him a top 10 finish, as his Fiesta S2000 came home 11th, behind the Fabia S2000 of Petter Kristiansen. Bernd Casier was the top Fiesta R5 runner and had moved from sixth to fifth when he retired on SS12. Kris Princen, who was fourth overall overnight in his Peugeot 208 T16, was forced to withdraw from the event on doctor’s orders, and did not start leg two.

Érdi takes start to finish ERC2 victory in Ypres
Tibor Érdi led from start to finish to claim ERC2 victory in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X by 3m 35.6s. Co-driven by double Hungarian rally champion Gergely Patko, Érdi used his experience of the West Flanders roads to take an early lead, and held onto it with 12 fastest stage times, despite Vojtěch Štajf getting fastest and fastest as his first appearance on the Ypres Rally progressed. Once Štajf got used to the stages, and had changed his driving style to stop his Subaru Duck Czech National Team Impreza WRX STI sliding so much in the tight corners, he set five fastest times, although stopping to replace a front left puncture on SS15 finally confirmed him in the runners-up position. Second place was enough for Štajf to extend his ERC2 lead, which was important as the Czech driver will skip the next round in Estonia.

Zawada scores dramatic final stage ERC Junior victory
Aleks Zawada jumped from third in ERC Juniors to score his maiden class victory, after a dramatic final stage in Ypres. The young Polish driver led for the opening four stages in his Adam R2, but spun, twice, on the opening stage of day two and got stuck in a ditch, losing one minute. A magnificent drive saw him fight back from sixth to third, before both drivers ahead of him hit problems within sight of the finish. Marijan Griebel looked on course to win in his ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Adam, but a puncture on the last stage cost him two minutes. This would have seen Diogo Gago take victory for the Peugeot Rally Academy, but after a textbook performance his 208 stopped on the final stage – meaning Griebel only dropped to second. Julius Tannert fought hard for his third place finish, fighting back from early set-up issues with his Adam R2 to show his class on fast asphalt. Likewise, Gino Bux got faster and faster as his confidence returned, finishing strongly in fifth in his Peugeot Belgium Luxembourg 208. Ralfs Sirmacis put his 208 off the road on SS13 and spectators with a rope came to his rescue. He finished sixth, while his Sport Racing Technologies team-mate Vasily Gryazin wasn’t so lucky – crashing out on SS14 and blocking the road for Tannert and Amaury Molle. The young Belgian driver drove sensible when his Fiesta R2’s brakes disappeared, to clinch the final ERC Junior finishing position. Title rivals Emil Bergkvist and Chris Ingram both failed to finish. Bergkvist retired 9kms into SS12 with an engine related problem – his Adam R2 had an oil leak, but only a detailed examination will determine if that was the cause or the result of the engine shutting down. It was also an engine related issue that put Ingram out, as he lost all drive on his Peugeot UK-supported 208 leaving the start line of SS10. He had just set his second fastest time of the event, and was on a charge. Florin Tincescu retired his 208 with gearbox problems and Joachim Wageman parked his 208 in a deep ditch on SS8.

Ypres Joy for Geusens after early gearbox woes
Polle Geusens lost five minutes with gearbox problems, and a snapped gear stick, in his Fiesta R2 on day one, but his perseverance was rewarded when he finished the top non-ERC Junior in the ERC3 category. Szabolcs Várkonyi finished 30.9s behind in his Peugeot 208. Defending ERC Ladies’ Trophy champion Ekaterina Stratieva broke an engine mount on her Citroën C2 R2’s on SS3. She had hoped to return under Rally 2 rules, but the team found the engine had also suffered a broken piston and valve, which made a return on day two impossible. Sławomir Ogryzek vows to return to the ERC as soon as possible, after his 208 was destroyed by fire.

Ypres winners share Erc privateer prize money
Seven drivers shared the Eurosport Events’ 20,000 Euro privateer prize fund at the finish of the Kenotek by CID LINES Ypres Rally. The cheques were presented by ERC Co-ordinator Jean-Baptiste Ley, after a hard-fought round five of the 2015 FIA European Rally Championship. ERC promoter Eurosport Events has now given away 130,000 Euros in its lucrative privateer prize fund over the first five rallies of 2015. The winners were:

First position: Freddy Loix (€7000)
Second position: Vincent Verschueren (€5000)
Third position: Bruno Magalhães (€3000)
Fourth position: Jaromír Tarabus (€2000)
Fifth position: Martin McCormack (€1000)
Sixth position: Davy Vanneste (€1000)
Seventh position: Petter Kristiansen (€1000)

Snijers scores FIA R-GT Cup win on home soil
Le Mans 24 Hour pole-sitter Romain Dumas looked set to clinch the FIA R-GT Cup, and finish fourth overall, until his Porsche 911 GT3 suffered transmission problems on the penultimate stage. This gave Patrick Snijers a surprise win – surprising, because the restrictor modifications arrived very late and he didn’t get to drive his Porsche 997 GTS in the new spec until the opening day of the event. François Delecour survived a few overshoots and spins in his 911, but his hopes of victory disappeared when he lost over eight minutes with an off on SS12. He still managed to secure second, 1m23.8s behind Snijers. There was no hiding how much Marc Duez was enjoying driving his 911 on the fast Ypres roads, and third was fine reward for a textbook performance.

TOP 10 POSITIONS (after 17 stages, 253.38 kilometres)
1. Freddy Loix (BEL)/Johan Gitsels (BEL) ŠKODA Fabia R5  2h21m29.9s
2. Bryan Bouffier (FRA)/Thibault de la Haye (FRA) Citroën DS3 R5  +1m27.5s
3. Vincent Verschueren (BEL)/Veronique Hostens (BEL) Citroën DS3 R5  +2m02.5s
4. Bruno Magalhães (PRT)/Hugo Magalhães (PRT) Peugeot 208 T16  +2m53.1s
5. Stéphane Lefebvre (FRA)/Stéphane Prevot (BEL) Peugeot 208 T16  +3m01.9s
6. Jaroslav Orsák (CZE)/David Šmeidler (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000  +3m20.8s
7. Jaromír Tarabus (CZE)/Daniel Trunkát (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000  +4m25.0s
8. Martin McCormack (GBR)/James O’Reilly (IRL) ŠKODA Fabia S2000  +5m48.2s
9. Davy Vanneste (BEL)/Eddy Snaet (BEL) Ford Fiesta R5  +5m48.3s
​10. Petter Kristiansen (NOR)/Ole Kristian Brennum (NOR) ŠKODA Fabia S2000  +6m59.9s

FIA ERC2: Tibor Érdi (HUN)/Gergely Patko (HUN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
FIA ERC3: Aleks Zawada (POL)/Cathy Derousseaux (POL) Opel Adam R2
FIA ERC Junior: Aleks Zawada (POL)/Cathy Derousseaux (POL) Opel Adam R2
Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy: Romain Dumas (CHE)

RALLY LEADERS
SS1-3:
Kevin Abbring
SS4-10: Craig Breen
SS11-15: Bryan Bouffier
SS15-17: Freddy Loix

STAGE WINNERS
Day one (Friday 26 June, 83.58 kilometres):
SS1:
Langemark (12.56kms): Abbring/Érdi/Zawada
SS2: Dikkebus 1 (14.22kms): Abbring/Érdi/Ingram
SS3: Wijtschate 1 (13.81kms): Bouffier/Érdi/Zawada
SS4: Mesen 1 (7.48kms): Bouffier/Štajf/Wageman
SS5: Dikkebus 2 (14.22kms): Abbring/Érdi/Griebel
SS6: Wijtschate 2 (13.81kms): Bouffier/Érdi/Griebel
SS7: Mesen 2 (7.48kms): Bouffier/Érdi/Griebel

Day two (Saturday 27 June, 169,80 kilometres):
SS8:
Reninge 1 (14.50kms): Breen/Érdi/Gago
SS9: Watou 1 (14.29kms): Loix/Érdi/Ingram
SS10: Westouter-Boeschepe 1 (19.26kms): Loix/Štajf/Zawada
SS11: Kemmelberg 1 (13.70kms): Lefebvre/Štajf/Zawada
SS12: Hollebeke 1 (23.23kms): Loix/Štajf/Griebel
SS13: Reninge 2 (14.50kms): Lefebvre/Érdi/Gago
SS14: Watou 2 (14.29kms): Loix/Štajf/Zawada
SS15: Westouter-Boeschepe 2 (19.26kms): Loix/Érdi/Zawada
SS16: Kemmelberg 2 (13.70kms): Lefebvre/Érdi/Zawada
SS17: Hollebeke 2 (23.23kms): Lefebvre/Érdi/Zawada

KEY STATISTICS
ERC wins in 2015:
Breen 3, Kajetanowicz 1, Loix 1.
ERC stage wins in 2015: Breen 26, Kajetanowicz 24, Lukyanuk 9, Loix 5, Lefebvre 4, Bouffier 4, Barrable 4, Abbring 3, J Moffett 1, Moura 1.

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS
Go to Fiaerc.com for the championship positions following round four of 10.

WATCH INSIDE ERC ON EUROSPORT – CHECK OUT THE WATCH IT ON TV SECTION OF FIAERC.COM FOR LOCAL BROADCAST DETAILS

WHAT’S NEXT?
​auto24 Rally Estonia (Estonia), 17-19 July 2015:
Fast, smooth gravel stages with crests commonplace. Based in Otepää in the south of the country. More information: Rallyestonia.com

BREEN ACHIEVES CHILDHOOD DREAM WITH ERC CIRCUIT WIN

 during the 2015 European Rally Championship ERC Circuit of Ireland rally,  from April 1st to 4th, at Belfast, Ireland. Photo François Flamand / DPPI

*Emotional Peugeot driver adds his name to list of famous Irish winners

*Opel scores 1-2 finish in ERC Junior, with Emil Bergkvist winning for second time

*Krisztián Hideg dominates ERC2 on his first visit to Northern Ireland

Craig Breen has achieved a childhood ambition by winning the Discover Northern Ireland Circuit of Ireland Rally – and in doing so, the Peugeot Rally Academy driver has taken the lead of the 2015 FIA European Rally Championship.

Co-driven by Scott Martin, the 25-year old Irishman drove brilliantly to keep himself in contention, as his 208 T16 suffered a mysterious and intermittent problem with the turbo pressure pop-off system for three quarters of the event. Fearing the car would lose power at any moment, Breen had to drive flat-out when things were going well, to compensate the time he’d lose when the boost was lost. Despite this, Breen swapped the lead with Robert Barrable – but the Ford Fiesta R5 driver crashed out of the lead three stages from the end.

“I’ve waited all my life for this moment – winning the Circuit of Ireland means more than anything else in the world to me,” said Breen who also tops the ERC Asphalt Master standings. “To put my name on the same trophy as my hero Frank Meagher is something really special. We had an overshoot and stalled twice on the last stage. I thought I’d blown it, but Scott kept my head together. I have nothing left in my body.”

Having not rallied since last October, Barrable set the fastest time on the Qualifying Stage and took that form into the rally itself. The lead swapped four times in five stages, as little as 0.5s separated Barrable and Breen at one stage. Barrable led by 1.1s going into SS16, but skidded over a bank on a slippery left hand corner and out of the event.

Kajetan Kajetanowicz impressed on his first visit to Northern Ireland. Describing the Tarmac stages as some of the best he’d ever driven on, the Pole had a number of close moments as he pushed his LOTOS Rally Team Fiesta R5 to the limit. He chased Breen hard for victory, finishing just 6.4s behind in second place after Breen lost time with a spin on the penultimate stage. Kajetanowicz earned 7000 Euros in prize money for his efforts.

The Moffett brothers, Josh and Sam, enjoyed a close battle throughout in their identical Ford Fiesta RRCs. It was sibling rivalry in the extreme, as they pushed hard over the Northern Ireland stages – which compared to the wet and muddy first day, were dry but just as slippery on day two. Just 41.8s separated them at the finish, with Josh claiming the final podium position.

Charles Martin came to Northern Ireland to gain experience, and on his first ERC outing in his Peugeot Rally Academy 208 T16, he achieved everything and more by finishing fifth.

Alexey Lukyanuk didn’t expect to finish in the points after his Fiesta R5 broke a driveshaft under braking on SS2. But after an excellent run on his first ERC Tarmac rally, which saw his pace increase to under one second per kilometre slower than the pacesetters, he moves up to third in the ERC drivers’ standings after finishing sixth.

Tommy Doyle finished seventh in his ŠKODA, followed by the similar Fabia S2000 of Jaromír Tarabus, who survived a trip into a ditch. Behind the ERC Junior-winning Emil Bergkvist (see below) Raul Jeets has a local farmer to thank for finishing 10th, after he opened a gate to let him out of a field he’d put his MM-Motorsport Fiesta R5 into on SS12.

Euan Thorburn was seventh in his Fiesta S2000, when broken power steering put him out after SS15, while Jonny Greer retired his Citroën DS3 R5 at the end of the final stage after a fire in the engine bay. He has been sixth at the time.

Hideg dominates ERC2 after great drive

On his first Circuit of Ireland, Krisztián Hideg dominated the NR4 category, winning ERC2 by 23.9s in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. The Hungarian driver finished the event with no brakes, but managed to get the car back to Belfast for the finish in 13th overall. Vojtěch Štajf suffered brake problems on the longest stage in his Subaru Duck Czech National Team Impreza WRX STI, but second in Northern Ireland gives him the lead in the drivers’ points table. Dávid Botka enjoyed a trouble-free run in his Lancer Evolution IX, finishing a strong third, while Tibor Érdi had to nurse his Evo X through part of the final day with broken suspension and looked set to finish fourth, before a late retirement. Glamour model Inessa Tushkanova walked away from a heavy crash, after skidding off the road in her Lancer Evolution X.

Opel scores ERC Junior and ERC3 1-2, as victory goes to Bergkvist

The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team scored a fantastic 1-2 in ERC Junior, with Emil Bergkvist scoring his second victory of the season in his Adam R2. He was put under pressure on day two by a charging team-mate, Marijan Griebel, who closed the gap to just 0.2s by the finish. Such was the pace of the Opel drivers, that they finished ninth and 10th overall. Chris Ingram finished third in his Peugeot UK 208 and was rightly delighted to finish on the podium, having crashed out of all three of his previous rallies in Northern Ireland. Sports Racing Technologies team-mates Vasily Gryazin and Ralfs Sirmacis finished fourth and fifth in their 208s. Gryazin had to deal with steering problems on SS10 and a broken engine mount on SS12, which made gear selection awkward, while Sirmacis visited a field on SS11. Łukasz Pieniążek recovered from two early big moments to finish seventh on his Circuit debut, while Florin Tincescu was eighth in a similar 208, despite finishing SS12 with flames coming off the front brakes. Calvin Beattie took ninth. Norway’s Steve Røkland (208) was fourth when he crashed his 208 one kilometre from the end of the final stage. Julius Tannert had a difficult event, breaking a driveshaft in his Adam on day one and hitting a telegraph pole and breaking the radiator on day two. Mattias Adielsson and Kevin Eves both crashed their 208s on day two, while Fergus Greensmith’s Fiesta also ended up in a ditch. The unluckiest driver on the Circuit of Ireland was Jon Armstrong. He held a big 33.4s lead overnight in his 208, but was given a five minute penalty for missing a tyre marking. The Northern Ireland driver elected not to start day two but earned the prestigious Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy for his efforts. Ekaterina Stratieva won the ERC Ladies’ Trophy.

Hollywood star Elba reaches rally finish

Idris Elba completed the event in a Fiesta R1 – the Hollywood star on the Circuit of Ireland filming a documentary for Discovery TV, entitled Idris Elba: Speed Demon.

PROVISIONAL TOP 10 POSITIONS (after 18 stages, 215.22 kilometres)

1 Craig Breen (IRL)/Scott Martin (GBR) Peugeot 208 T16 2h04m04.5s

2 Kajetan Kajetanowicz (POL)/Jarek Baran (POL) Ford Fiesta R5 +6.4s

3 Josh Moffett (IRL)/John Rowan (IRL) Ford Fiesta RRC +1m42.3s

4 Sam Moffett (IRL)/Karl Atkinson (IRL) Ford Fiesta RRC +2m24.1s

5 Charles Martin (FRA)/Thierry Salva (FRA) Peugeot 208 T16 +2m41.2s

6 Alexey Lukyanuk (BLR)/Yevhen Chervonenko (BLR) Ford Fiesta R5 +4m36.1s

7 Tommy Doyle (IRL)/Eamon Hayes (IRL) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +5m23.5s

8 Jaromír Tarabus (CZE)/Daniel Trunkát (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +7m29.7s

9 Emil Bergkvist (SWE)/Joakim Sjöberg (SWE) Opel Adam R2 +8m08.3s

10 Raul Jeets (EST)/Andrus Toom (EST) Ford Fiesta R5 +8m35.5s

FIA ERC2: Krisztián Hideg (HUN)/István Kérek (HUN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX

FIA ERC3: Emil Bergkvist (SWE)/Joakim Sjöberg (SWE) Opel Adam R2

FIA ERC Junior: Emil Bergkvist (SWE)/Joakim Sjöberg (SWE) Opel Adam R2

ERC Ladies’ Trophy: Inessa Tushkanova (RUS) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX

Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy: Jon Armstrong (GBR)

RALLY LEADERS

SS1: Robert Barrable

SS2-11: Craig Breen

SS12-15: Robert Barrable

SS16-18: Craig Breen

STAGE WINNERS

Day one (Friday 3 April, 87.04 kilometres):

SS1: Bucks Head 1 (14.54kms): Overall: Barrable/ERC2: Hideg/ERC3: Bergkvist/
ERC Junior: Bergkvist

SS2: Hamilton’s Folly 1 (16.95kms): Breen/Hideg/Armstrong/Armstrong

SS3: Lough Henney 1 (10.50kms): Breen/Hideg/Armstrong/Armstrong

SS4: Bucks Head 2 (14.54kms): Barrable/Hideg/Armstrong/Armstrong

SS5: Hamilton’s Folly 2 (16.95kms): Breen/Hideg/Armstrong/Armstrong

SS6: Lough Henney 2 (10.50kms): Kajetanowicz/Hideg/Armstrong/Armstrong

SS7: Newtownards TT 1 (1.53kms): Lukyanuk/Botka/Bergkvist/Bergkvist

SS8: Newtownards TT 2 (1.53kms): Lukyanuk/Botka/Sirmacis/Sirmacis

Day two (Saturday 4 April, 128.18 kilometres):

SS9: Bulls Brook 1 (13.44kms): J Moffett/Hideg/Ingram/Ingram/Ingram

SS10: McGaffins Corner 1 (26.02kms): Breen/Hideg/Ingram/Ingram

SS11: Banbridge 1 (8.71kms): Breen/Hideg/Bergkvist/Bergkvist

SS12: Gregorlough 1 (14.80kms): Barrable/Štajf/Griebel/Griebel

SS13: Lisburn 1 (1.12kms): Barrable/Botka/Bergkvist/Bergkvist

SS14: Lisburn 2 (1.12kms): Breen/Botka/Bergkvist/Bergkvist

SS15: Bulls Brook 2 (13.44kms): Breen/Hideg/Griebel/Griebel

SS16: McGaffins Corner 2 (26.02kms): Breen/Štajf/Bergkvist/Bergkvist

SS17: Banbridge 2 (8.71kms): Kajetanowicz/Štajf/Bergkvist/Bergkvist

SS18: Gregorlough 2 (14.80kms): Breen/Štajf/Griebel/Griebel

KEY STATISTICS

ERC wins in 2015: Breen 2, Kajetanowicz 1.

ERC stage wins in 2015: Kajetanowicz 20, Breen 13, Lukyanuk 9, Barrable 4, J Moffett 1.

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

Go to Fiaerc.com for the championship positions following round three of 10.

WATCH INSIDE ERC ON EUROSPORT – CHECK OUT THE WATCH IT ON TV SECTION OF FIAERC.COM FOR LOCAL BROADCAST DETAILS

WHAT’S NEXT?

Round 04/10: SATA Rallye Açores (Portugal), 4-6 June 2015: Based on the archipelago’s largest island of São Miguel in the mid-Atlantic, the event will celebrate its half-century in 2015. The timed tests criss-cross breath-taking scenery and lush countryside, and are characterised by their sandy surface and narrow and undulating nature. And because the stages are often no wider than the width of a car, there is simply no margin for error, particularly on the Sete Cedades test, which runs along the rim of a volcanic crater lake. Changeable weather is also a factor with conditions switching from sunshine to showers and patches of fog thrown in for good measure.

www.fiaerc.com

                                                     lorycmallorca

BREEN STORMS THROUGH THE SNOW FOR LATVIA ERC GOLD

04  BREEN CRAIG IRL Scott Martin  GBR Peugeot 208 T16 Peugeot Rally Academy Action during the 2015 European Rally Championship ERC Liepaja rally,  from February 6 to 8th, at Liepaja, Lettonie. Photo François Flamand / DPPI

*Irishman wins tough winter Rally Liepāja in his Peugeot 208 T16

*ERC2 winner Plangi earns 7000 Euros in prize money

*Bergkvist claims first ERC Junior win driving an Opel Adam R2

Craig Breen has won the second round of the 2015 FIA European Rally Championship, Rally Liepāja in Latvia, after a faultless drive in his Peugeot Rally Academy 208 T16.

Co-driven by Great Britain’s Scott Martin, the 25-year old Irishman mastered the most difficult of winter conditions, with thawing ice and slippery wet snow on day one and heavy blizzards of snow and freezing fog on day two. Breen’s last ERC win was on last March’s Acropolis Rally in Greece, when he went on to give the 208 T16 a famous victory on its ERC debut.

“It was really a rally of attrition in tough conditions, but when we were pushing we were only beaten on one stage by 0.7s so we always had the speed,” said Breen, who triumphed by 1m 40.7s. “Things changed very quickly but we stuck to our pace and this is an awesome result. You have to go back through the history books, to the 1960s, for the last time an Irishman won on snow. It’s a big boost for me and after winning on gravel and Tarmac in Greece last year I’ve now won on snow so that makes me a bit of an all-rounder. Hopefully this will be the first of many this year and the championship challenge is very much back on. Who can forget the next rally of the year is the Circuit of Ireland and we’ll be coming back there with a win under our belts just like last year."

With other R5 and Super 2000 crews hitting problems, an incredible results table sees three ERC2 contenders (R4 production cars) finishing in the top four and three ERC Juniors (R2) finishing in the top 10. Siim Plangi (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X) held second place from SS5 onwards, winning ER2 ahead of Dominykas Butvilas (Subaru Impreza WRX STI) to claim 7000 Euros in prize money. Even more extraordinary was the performance of the ERC Junior winner Emil Bergkvist, who finished sixth overall in his ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team Opel Adam R2.

Out of the top category four-wheel drive cars that did complete all the stages, Robert Consani (Peugeot 207 S2000) grew in confidence as the event progressed and was delighted to reach the finish in fifth to main his ERC title challenge. Rear axle problems on the final day couldn’t stop Raul Jeets completing the top 10 in his MM-Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5, while Jarosław Koltun enjoyed a solid run in his Fiesta R5.

Martin Hudec’s first international rally in a ŠKODA Fabia S2000 was rewarded with 19th, although spectators did have to rescue him after he went off the road on SS8. Antonín Tlusťák lost a lot of time driving in heavy snow on the same stage, and finished 21st in his Fabia S2000.

For the drivers who returned under the Rally 2 rules, Alexey Lukyanuk showed what could have been had he not rolled his Chervonenko Racing Fiesta R5 on day one, by setting fastest time on five of day two’s six stages.

Kajetan Kajetanowicz (LOTOS Rally Team Fiesta R5) also returned to gain experience of driving on snow and ice. The day points that the newly crowned ERC Ice Master scored also sees the Polish driver maintain his overall ERC lead by five points ahead of Breen and Consani.

After damaging a wheel on day one, Jaroslav Orsák returned the following day, but retired his Fabia S2000 on the road section to the third stage with engine failure – while Giacomo Costenaro (Peugeot 207 S2000) to gain snow driving experience.

ERC2: Pacesetter Plangi dominates snow stages

Twenty-two-year old Estonian Siim Plangi led from start to finish, and set fastest class time on all but one stage, to win ERC2 by 3m47.7s in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. There was a tremendously close battle for second, with Jānis Vorobjovs (Mitsubishi) and Dominykas Butvilas (Subaru Poland Rally Team Impreza WRX STI) tied for position after SS9. However, Vorobjovs lost 90s on the final stage when he hit a snow-covered ditch and picked up a puncture. He dropped to fourth, leaving Butvilas in second and Latvian Mārtinš Svilis – who had received a 30s penalty for leaving service late at the end of day one – third in his Mitsubishi. Dávid Botka was delighted to finish fifth in his Lancer, while turbo problems delayed Krisztián Hideg, who came home sixth in his Evolution IX. Łukasz Kabaciński survived a high-speed off on the last stage to secure seventh, while Tarmac ace Vojtěch Štajf was eighth in a similar Subaru. Inessa Tushkanova had several moments in her Mitsubishi, but survived to take the ERC Ladies’ Trophy. Tomasz Kasperczyk restarted, but stopped again, this time with engine problems in his Subaru.

ERC3: Klausz shines in the Latvian snow

Hungarian teenager Kristóf Klausz was the best of the non-ERC Junior contenders eligible for ERC3 points on the final stage in his Renault Clio R3, after Aron Domžala lost a lead of 3m50s with by going off within sight of the finish. The Citroën DS3 R3T was understandably distraught by the time he’d reached the flying finish, having lost over five minutes getting his car back on the road. Latvian World Rallycross Championship star Reinis Nitišs (Sports Racing Technologies Fiesta R2) completed his first rally in a very impressive 25th overall – and just 3.1s behind Domžala. Round one winner Sławomir Ogryzek (Peugeot 208) rounded off the finishers after several delays early on.

ERC Junior: Brilliant Bergkvist wins in Latvia

Emil Bergkvist doubled his overnight lead to win the opening round of the ERC Junior Championship by 30.1s in his ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team Adam R2. The 20-year old Swede also finished an extraordinary sixth overall. Steve Røkland had a great run to second in his Peugeot, while Ralfs Sirmacis completed the ERC Junior podium for Sports Racing Technologies – despite running fourth on the road on day one and finishing SS8 with two chicane marker tyres stuck underneath his 208’s sump guard. The Latvian also earned the prestigious Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy following his battling performance. Mattias Adielsson rolled his 208 after the flying finish of SS8 while battling for the lead, yet with considerable body damage and engine problems finished fourth. On his first snow rally, Jon Armstrong finished a strong fifth in his 208, one place ahead of Chris Ingram, who lost time when a gear selection problem resulted in his Peugeot UK entry momentarily stick in third gear and skid into a ditch on SS7. After crashing into a tree on day one, Diogo Gago gained a huge amount of experience by finishing all the stages in his bruised 208. Aleks Zawada had just set fastest time on SS6, when he slid his Opel Adam R2 at high speed into a ditch on SS7, punching a hole in its radiator. Wojciech Chuchala lost 20s in a ditch on SS7, and went off for good on the next stage, while Łukasz Pieniążek crashed his similar 208 on the final stage. Rainer Rohtmets lost almost 20 minutes in a ditch on SS8, and withdrew on the road section after SS9 when his Citroën C2R2 picked up an engine problem. Quotes from all drivers are attached.

PROVISIONAL TOP 10 POSITIONS (after 11 stages, 205.73 kilometres)

1 Craig Breen (IRL)/Scott Martin (GBR) Peugeot 208 T16 1h56m49.1s

2 Siim Plangi (EST)/Marek Sarapuu (EST) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X +1m40.7s

3 Dominykas Butvilas (LIT)/Kamil Heller (POL) Subaru Impreza WRX STI +5m48.6s

4 Mārtinš Svilis (LVA)/Ivo Püķis (LVA) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X +6m39.2s

5 Robert Consani (FRA)/Maxime Vilmot (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000 +6m51.5s

6 Emil Bergkvist (SWE)/Joakim Sjöberg (SWE) Opel Adam R2 +7m29.9s

7 Janis Vorobjovs (LVA)/Andris Malnieks (LVA) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X +7m58.0s

8 Steve Røkland (NOR)/James Aldridge (GBR) Peugeot 208 R2 +8m00.0s

9 Ralfs Sirmacis (LVA)/Artūrs Šimins (LVA) Peugeot 208 R2 +8m09.1s

10 Raul Jeets (EST)/Andrus Toom (EST) Ford Fiesta R5 +8m36.0s

FIA ERC2: Siim Plangi (EST)/Marek Sarapuu (EST) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

FIA ERC3: Emil Bergkvist (SWE)/Joakim Sjöberg (SWE) Opel Adam R2

FIA ERC Junior: Emil Bergkvist (SWE)/Joakim Sjöberg (SWE) Opel Adam R2

ERC Ladies’ Trophy: Inessa Tushkanova (RUS) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX

Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy: Ralfs Sirmacis (LVA) Peugeot 208 R2

RALLY LEADERS

SS1: Alexey Lukyanuk

SS2-11: Craig Breen

STAGE WINNERS

Day one (Saturday 7 February, 114.13 kilometres):

SS1: Neste Oil 1 (16.14kms): Overall: Lukyanuk/ERC2: Plangi/ERC3: Bergkvist/ERC Junior: Bergkvist

SS2: Kuldīga 1 (36.97kms): Breen/Plangi/Bergkvist/Bergkvist

SS3: Ecorent (7.91kms): Breen/Plangi/Bergkvist/Bergkvist

SS4: Kuldīga 2 (36.97kms): Breen/Plangi/Sirmacis/Sirmacis

SS5: Neste Oil 2 (16.14kms): Breen/Plangi/Sirmacis/Sirmacis

Day two (Sunday 8 February, 91.60 kilometres):

SS6: Sporta Bārs Optibet 1 (11.33kms): Kajetanowicz/Plangi/Zawada/Zawada

SS7: Rallyofchampions.com 1 (12.15kms): Lukyanuk/Plangi/Sirmacis/Sirmacis

SS8: Liepāja Iedvesmo 1 (22.32kms): Lukyanuk/Plangi/Sirmacis/Sirmacis

SS9: Sporta Bārs Optibet 1 (11.33kms): Lukyanuk/Plangi/Sirmacis/Sirmacis

SS10: Rallyofchampions.com 1 (12.15kms): Lukyanuk/Plangi/Sirmacis/Sirmacis

SS11: Liepāja Iedvesmo 1 (22.32kms): Lukyanuk/Butvilas/Bergkvist/Bergkvist

KEY STATISTICS

ERC wins in 2015: Breen, Kajetanowicz 1.

ERC stage wins in 2015: Kajetanowicz 18, Lukyanuk 7, Breen 4.

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

Go to Fiaerc.com for the championship positions following round two of 10.

WATCH INSIDE ERC ON EUROSPORT – CHECK OUT THE WATCH IT ON TV SECTION OF FIAERC.COM FOR LOCAL BROADCAST DETAILS

WHAT’S NEXT?

Round 03/10: Circuit of Ireland Rally (Northern Ireland), 2-4 April 2015: First held in 1931, the Circuit of Ireland Rally is not only one of the oldest rallies in the world, it’s also one of the most prestigious and has the honour of hosting the ERC’s first pure asphalt round of the 2015 season. Based in Belfast, the rally runs on challenging country lanes in Northern Ireland while some fan-friendly street stages in town centre locations are also set to form part of the itinerary with organisers promising a “bigger and better event” than in 2014. The rally will also welcome competitors from the Irish Tarmac and Northern Ireland Stage championships. More information: Circuitofireland.net.

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Thrilling start to 2015 ERC season

Thrilling start to 2015 ERC season

 

The 2015 FIA European Rally Championship got off to a thrilling start on the ice and snow of Upper Austria earlier this week with Kajetan Kajetanowicz, Vojtěch Štajf and Sławomir Ogryzek emerging as the three big winners.

Kajetanowicz claimed the overall victory on the Internationale Jännerrallye powered by GaGa Energy – and 7000 Euros in prize money – in his LOTOS Rally Team Ford Fiesta R5 with Štajf and Ogryzek taking the ERC2 and ERC3 laurels respectively. Kajetanowicz also opened up a huge lead in the ERC Ice Master classification by going fastest on all but one of the 18 stages.

Elsewhere, Robert Consani scored a ERC career-high second place following a fine drive, with Alexey Lukyanuk earning the Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy after he battled back from 23rd to third after an engine issue on stage one. Click here for all the latest results and standings.

 

Kajetanowicz the big winner as 20,000 Euros ERC prize fund is handed out

Kajetanowicz the big winner as 20,000 Euros ERC prize fund is handed out

Kajetan Kajetanowicz will return home to his native Poland a winner in more ways than one. Not only did the LOTOS Rally Team ace claim victory on the FIA European Rally Championship season-opener, he also bagged 7000 Euros in prize money.

ERC promoter Eurosport Events has created a package of financial rewards in partnership with several key stakeholders to assist drivers without manufacturer support competing in the ERC. It is the first time in recent history that a major international rally championship has offered a season-long prize fund and is another example of how Eurosport Events is assisting drivers and teams contesting the ERC, having previously introduced a number of cost-cutting measures.

The round-by-round prize fund of 20,000 Euros will be allocated to the seven highest-placed eligible drivers according to the final official classification. To be eligible, drivers must register for the ERC, receive no manufacturer support (Eurosport Events will determine privateer status in consultation with the manufacturer in question), use tyres from one of the three ERC partner companies (Michelin, Pirelli and Yokohama) and not compete in a Regional Rally Car. The prize fund allocation for the Internationale Jännerrallye is as follows:

First position: Kajetan Kajetanowicz, €7000
Second position: Robert Consani, €5000
Third position: Alexey Lukyanuk, €3000
Fourth position: Jaromír Tarabus, €2000
Fifth position: Jonathan Hirschi, €1000
Sixth position: Antonín Tlusťák, €1000
Seventh position: Vojtěch Štajf, €1000

 

The ERC Jännerrallye in numbers

The ERC Jännerrallye in numbers

This is a summary of the Internationale Jännerrallye powered by GaGa Energy, round one of the 2015 FIA European Rally Championship, in numbers of course:

17: Stages won by Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran
176: ERC Ice Master points scored by Kajetanowicz
7000: Prize money in Euros Kajetanowicz earned for winning in Austria
8.5s: Gap separating Jaromír Tarabus and Alexey Lukyanuk starting the final stage
20: Places gained by Lukyanuk following his delay on the opening stage with an engine issue
18: ERC3 driver Kristóf Klausz’s age, making him the youngest competitor on the Jännerrallye (pictured right)
3: Leg points scored by Craig Breen following his Rally 2 return
4: Top 10 overall times set by ERC3 winner Sławomir Ogryzek
237.80: Competitive distance in kilometres
3: ERC titles won by Simone Tempestini’s new co-driver Matteo Chiarcossi

 

Ice, ice Kajto in the ERC

Ice, ice Kajto in the ERC

Kajetan Kajetanowicz not only leads the FIA European Rally Championship standings following his victory in Austria – he also tops the ERC Ice Master classification.

The LOTOS Rally Team ace bagged 176 points after he won all but one stage on the Internationale Jännerrallye powered by GaGa Energy. He will head to next month’s Rally Liepāja with a 76-point advantage over fellow Ford Fiesta R5 driver Alexey Lukyanuk, who took one stage best in Austria and 100 points.

Jaromír Tarabus scored 56 points, Robert Consani 49 points, Stéphane Lefebvre 17 points, Craig Breen 11 points and Martin Fischeriehner three points, with Jonathan Hirschi and Hermann Neubauer each taking one ERC Ice Master point.

Along with the ERC Asphalt Master and ERC Gravel Master awards, the ERC Ice Master recognises the performances of surface specialists competing in the ERC. Points are awarded for each stage run on a scale of 10-6-4-2-1.

Kajetanowicz was last year’s ERC Gravel Master and Robert Kubica claimed the ERC Ice Master accolade, with overall champion Esapekka Lappi securing the ERC Asphalt Master honours.

 

Perfect ERC rally cheers star Consani

Perfect ERC rally cheers star Consani

Robert Consani said his capture of second place on the 2015 FIA European Rally Championship season-opener was just “perfect”.

Co-driven by fellow Frenchman Maxime Vilmot, Consani impressed hugely on the ice and snow of the Internationale Jännerrallye powered by GaGa Energy, guiding his older-specification Peugeot 207 Super 2000 to the runner-up spot 12 months on from making his competition debut in a four-wheel-drive car.

And to underline the level of Consani’s performance, it emerged afterwards that he had completed the entire 238 kilometres on eight Pirelli tyres. “It’s incredible, I’m very happy,” said an emotional Consani at the finish of the final stage in Austria.

One of the most popular drivers in the ERC, Consani tackled all 11 rounds of the championship in 2014 and placed 10th in the final standings with two fourths to his name. He could have finished higher up the order but for a spate of unfortunate retirements. Click here to find out more on Robert Consani.

 

One down three to go for ERC leading lady Daňhelová

One down three to go for ERC leading lady Daňhelová

Martiná Daňhelová scored ERC Ladies’ Trophy success for the second year running in Austria – and revealed her programme for 2015 is likely to take in four rounds of the FIA European Rally Championship.

The Czech beat eventual ERC Ladies’ Trophy champion Ekaterina Stratieva to the class win on last year’s Internationale Jännerrallye. But with the Bulgarian not competing in Freistadt this season, Daňhelová raced to an unchallenged victory in the Renault Clio Sport she shares with co-driver and fellow Czech Karolína Jugasová.

After completing the snowy rally, Daňhelová said: “On some runs it was hell, on the other side it was fun. Day one was really hard but day two, with the sun shining, we are able to enjoy the race. We tried to drive with a good speed without risk and we are happy.”

Of her programme for the remainder of 2015, Daňhelová hopes to contest three more events including the Geko Ypres Rally and her home round, Barum Czech Rally Zlín.

Rally Liepāja information online

Rally Liepāja information online

The updated Rally Guide, supplementary regulations, entry form and itinerary for Rally Liepāja, round two of the 2015 FIA European Rally Championship and the opening event of the FIA ERC Junior Championship season, are now available online by clicking here.

Q&A: Kajetan Kajetanowicz

Q&A: Kajetan Kajetanowicz

The Pole came out on top of the FIA European Rally Championship season-opener in Austria. This is what he had to say.

Fastest time on all but the final stage and a winning margin of over seven minutes – how does this performance rate on your list of motorsport achievements?
“On the last stage I was just thinking about the finish. ‘I must finish this stage – I must finish this rally’, so it was really difficult. Of course I am really happy. Thank you to my team. It is a big result for the LOTOS Rally Team. This win is really important for us. I hope we can do the same again this year, but I don’t know where. Every rally is completely different. I like driving on snow, so this was good for us.”

You made it look easy, but the conditions were far from easy. How difficult was it to drive on the snow and ice, and how were you so fast without making mistakes?
“It wasn’t easy, because the grip was changing all the time – from ice to snow, then wet snow and Tarmac. But we did it and I don’t know how! I still can’t believe it; it’s amazing. It’s all much better than I thought before this rally.”

Now you are leading the ERC standings, what are your plans for the rest of the season?
“It’s only plans at the moment, but I hope we can be at Rally Liepāja in Latvia. Then I want to do Ireland, maybe Rallye Açores, but the general plan is to push because we are still learning. We have a great team – thank you to M-Sport, they are working very well and the Fiesta R5 is a fantastic car. I think we can achieve good results in the general classification of the European Rally Championship, but you must work hard.”

www.fiaerc.com

lorycmallorca                                 Mallorca-Cartec S.L.  Ihre professionelle Autowerkstatt auf Mallorca

Griebel set for more ERC Junior action with ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team

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The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team will continue its exciting participation in the FIA ERC Junior Championship in 2015 with Marijan Griebel chasing success in an Opel ADAM R2.

Griebel, 25, took part on three ERC Junior events in 2014, scoring several stage wins plus a momentous podium finish on Barum Czech Rally Zlín in late August. While his precise schedule for next season has yet to be finalised, ERC Junior will be his main focus in 2015.

Meanwhile, Swede Emil Bergvist will represent the ADAC Opel Rallye Team in the Germany-based ADAC Rallye Masters.

The 2015 ERC Junior Championship will consist of six rounds with drivers counting their best four scores. The calendar follows: Rally Liepāja (Latvia, gravel/ice/snow): 6-8 February; Circuit of Ireland Rally (Northern Ireland, asphalt): 2-4 April; SATA Rallye Açores (Portugal, gravel): 4-6 June; Geko Ypres Rally (Belgium, asphalt): 25-27 June; auto24 Rally Estonia (gravel): 17-19 July*; Barum Czech Rally Zlín (Czech Republic, asphalt): 28-30 August. *Subject to signing of ERC Promoter agreement.

 

Praise for Lappi from former ERC champion Hänninen

Praise for Lappi from former ERC champion Hänninen

Juho Hänninen, who won the FIA European Rally Championship in 2012, has praised Esapekka Lappi after his fellow Finn captured the 2014 ERC title.

Like Hänninen, Lappi also clinched the ERC laurels driving a factory ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000, which the former champion says played a part in Lappi’s title success this season.

“It was good what he did,” said Hänninen, who contested several WRC events in 2014 with the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team. “ŠKODA again showed how good its team is, Esapekka is in a good school there and it was his turn to win the championship after I won in 2012 and Jan [Kopecký] won the title for ŠKODA last year.”

While Lappi’s plans for next season are unclear, Hänninen believes the 23-year-old has a bright future ahead of him. “He’s still young and still needs experience, but there’s no reason why he cannot go to the WRC one day,” said Hänninen.

 

Cronin keen on more JRM Subaru runs following impressive ERC outing

Cronin keen on more JRM Subaru runs following impressive ERC outing

Keith Cronin would relish the chance to drive JRM’s Group N-specification Subaru WRX STI again following his impressive debut in the car on the 2014 FIA European Rally Championship season-closer earlier this month.

Cronin was on course for victory in the ERC Production Car Cup category when he slid off the road in the closing stages of Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse. “The team at JRM have been fantastic and I really enjoyed the Subaru,” said Cronin. “It was working perfectly and I felt very comfortable in it from the first stage. It’s a serious Group N car and I’d jump at the chance to drive it again.”

Of his early exit in Corsica, Cronin added:“The grip levels on that stage were changing all the time. There were some damp patches in places and I think we just got caught out on the turn in for the corner. Once we touched the gravel on the outside, there was little we could do.”

 

Mixed emotions for Puskádi on ERC return

Mixed emotions for Puskádi on ERC return

János Puskádi says he was happy to be back in the FIA European Rally Championship, despite damage to a tyre costing him vital time on Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse earlier this month.

The Hungarian was tackling a round of the ERC for the first time since Rallye Sanremo in October 2013 and was in 14th position when his Eurosol Racing Team Hungary ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 suffered a puncture on stage six.

“I was really so happy about all the day, all the race and all the stages but then we had a puncture, which was really bad luck,” said Puskádi, a regular on FIA ERC Trophy events in 2014. “We lost a lot of time but all we can do is keep going.”

While Puskádi’s 21st-place finish provided little satisfaction, he was nevertheless able to celebrate Zoltán Bessenyey’s capture of a second straight ERC 2WD title.

 

Q&A: Stéphane Lefebvre

Q&A: Stéphane Lefebvre

The French ace reveals his delight after winning the inaugural FIA ERC Junior Championship for Peugeot Rally Academy to go with his Junior WRC success.

How good does it feel to have won the ERC Junior title for 2014?
“It’s fantastic to have won another international title. It’s like I’m living a dream – I’m thrilled. Before the start of the season, the ERC Junior title was my objective and we succeeded in winning. It is thanks to everyone at the Peugeot Rally Academy.”

Where does this achievement rank in terms of your other career highlights?
“To win the ERC Junior title is a great moment for my career and winning two titles in France is fantastic. This rally was not easy for me but I am very happy to have finished second. It was not my objective to push but to finish and it’s a very good season for us.”

What’s next for Stéphane Lefebvre?
“For the next year I hope to drive with the R5 car on WRC events and on ERC events as well.”

www.fiaerc.com

lorycmallorca                                         Mallorca-Cartec S.L.  Ihre professionelle Autowerkstatt auf Mallorca

Double ERC first for Breen and 208T16 on Acropolis Rally

MOTORSPORT - EUROPEAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2014 - ACROPOLE RALLY OF GRECE - LOUTRAKI (GRE) 28/03 TO 30/03/2014 - PHOTO : GREGORY LENORMAND / DPPI - 
02 BREEN CRAIG / MARTIN SCOTT  - PEUGEOT 208 T16 R5 - ACTION

*Irishman takes ERC title lead with thrilling Greece victory

*Pushkar and Sukhovenko triumph at the last in ERC support categories

*Stratieva scores ERC Ladies’ Trophy maximum

Craig Breen has become the third different winner in as many rounds of this year’s FIA European Rally Championship with an emotional maiden victory in the all-action series.

The Irishman’s success on the legendary Acropolis Rally marked a debut ERC win for Peugeot’s all-new 208T16 and follows Kajetan Kajetanowicz’s triumph in Poland last year when he scored the first victory by an R5 car in the flagship regional championship.

Behind Breen and British co-driver Scott Martin, who move to the top of the ERC standings following their first-place finish in Greece, Bryan Bouffier and Xavier Panseri (Citroën DS3 RRC) finished second with Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran completing the podium in their M-Sport Ford Fiesta.

Elsewhere, young Russian driver Evgeny Sukhovenko won the ERC 2WD category, while Vitaliy Pushkar secured first place in the ERC Production Car Cup when long-term Tibor Érdi retired on the road section heading to the finish. Ekaterina Stratieva took maximum ERC Ladies’ Trophy points for the first time this season.

Breen, whose performance earned him the prestigious Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy, celebrated his victory by paying tribute to Gareth Roberts, his best friend and former co-driver who lost his life in a rally crash in 2012. He also remembered his idol, the late Frank Meagher, who was the last Irishman to win a round of the European championship.

“It’s been the perfect weekend,” said Breen. “We showed a lot of speed on the Tarmac yesterday and everything worked just as well on gravel today so hats off to the team and Peugeot Sport for all their hard work. Frank Meagher was my absolute idol. But I remember Gareth and me asking ourselves the day before the accident how long it would take until we could be winning one of these events. A couple of years later and it’s an amazing feeling and thanks to Scott, he’s done a fantastic job.”

Breen started Sunday’s gravel-based final leg leading by 14.7s and remained in control up front as Bouffier and Kajetanowicz fought out a dramatic battle for second place, which Bouffier eventually won after Kajetanowicz elected to settle for third. All three drivers were using Michelin tyres.

“My target, as usually, is to win and I did quite a lot of mistakes this weekend so I’m a little disappointed,” said Bouffier. “But we only discovered the car on Tarmac in shakedown and on gravel this morning so we have to be happy with this result. Now we will try to beat Craig on the next round in Ireland.” For Kajetanowicz, the result maintained his strong start to the season for the LOTOS Rally Team. “It was an incredible rally for us and we are very happy to be on the podium,” he said.

Erstwhile ERC title-leader Esapekka Lappi finished fourth for ŠKODA Motorsport with Bruno Magalhães overcoming a scare when his Pirelli-shod Peugeot 207 Super 2000 suffered a broken cross member on Sunday’s third stage to take fifth on his first international rally in two years.

While Lappi was unable to emulate the spectacular performance that carried him to victory on the last ERC round he remains in the thick of the title fight, four points behind Breen.

Emerging Russian star Vasily Gryazin had to settle for sixth after he stopped to change a left-rear puncture on Sunday’s second stage. Jaroslav Orsák overcame suspension and steering dramas to take seventh with Jean-Michel Raoux securing his first points of the season in eighth.

Jaromír Tarabus bagged his first stage win of 2014 with the fastest time through the all-asphalt Super Special Korinthos. But his use of Tarmac tyres infringed the rules and he was handed a three-minute time penalty, which left him in ninth place at the finish. Robert Consani soldiered on following myriad technical problems to complete the top 10 and score the final leg bonus point ahead of Italian ERC newcomer Giacomo Costenaro and Czech ERC stalwart Antonín Tlusťák.

Sepp Wiegand restarted on day two after retiring his ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland Fabia with broken suspension on Saturday afternoon. After posting several strong stage times the young German bagged three leg bonus points. However, there was no restart for Kevin Abbring after the Dutchman retired from the lead on stage five with a high water temperature on his 208T16.

ERC Production Car Cup: Dramatic win for Pushkar as Érdi drops out in

Vitaliy Pushkar scored his maiden ERC Production Car Cup victory in dramatic fashion. Tibor Érdi Jr, who had led from the start, was prepared to concede defeat after losing a chunk of time on the final stage with broken rear suspension. But when Pushkar – who had cancelled out Érdi’s comfortable overnight lead with a string of fastest stage times – emerged at the stop line with a front-left puncture, Érdi Jr thought victory would be his after all only to retire on the road section heading to the finish. Martin Hudec almost rolled in the closing stages but came home in second behind Pushkar after clutch and brake problems hampered his progress. Cypriot Charalambos Timotheou completed the podium.

ERC 2WD Championship: Rookie Sukhovenko scores last-gasp victory

Evgeny Sukhovenko emerged as a star of the future with a debut ERC 2WD Championship victory. The 23-year-old Russian started the final stage 4.2s behind Simone Tempestini. But when the Romanian teenager damaged his Citroën DS3 R3T’s radiator going through a water crossing on the last run, Sukhovenko was able to pick up the pieces and win in his Renault Clio R3. Defending champion Zoltán Bessenyey had led at the overnight halt following Todor Slavov’s crash on stage five. But the Hungarian’s Honda Civic Type R didn’t quite pack enough punch to fend off Tempestini and Sukhovenko. Nevertheless, the TV presenter fought back to finish second with Alex Filip a fine third on the first of five starts in this year’s ERC. Greek veteran Haris Kaltsounis completed the finishers on his 41st Acropolis Rally.

ERC Gravel Master update: Breen takes early ERC Gravel Master lead

After scoring top ERC Asphalt Master points on Saturday’s Tarmac leg, Craig Breen did likewise on Sunday by taking 48 ERC Gravel Master points, one more than Bryan Bouffier managed. Kajetan Kajetanowicz scored 27 points with Esapekka Lappi taking 16 points and Jaromír Tarabus collecting 10 points. Sepp Wiegand, Vasily Gryazin, Bruno Magalhães and Robert Consani also scored ERC Gravel Master points. Along with the new-for-2014 ERC Asphalt Master and ERC Ice Master accolades, the ERC Gravel Master award recognises the achievements of surface specialists competing in the FIA European Rally Championship. The next opportunity for drivers to score ERC Gravel Master points is on May’s SATA Rallye Açores.

WATCH INSIDE ERC ON EUROSPORT: TUESDAY 1 APRIL, 23:00hrs-23:30hrs CET

TOP 10 POSITIONS (after 13 stages, 238.84 kilometres)
1 Craig Breen (IRL)/Scott Martin (GBR) Peugeot 208T16 2h21m20.2s

2 Bryan Bouffier (FRA)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Citroën DS3 RRC +8.1s

3 Kajetan Kajetanowicz (POL)/Jarosłav Baran (POL) Ford Fiesta R5 +42.1s

4 Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +1m33.0s

5 Bruno Magalhães (PRT)/Carlos Magalhães (PRT) Peugeot 207 S2000 +4m40.0s

6 Vasily Gryazin (LVA)/Dmitry Eremeev (LVA) Ford Fiesta S2000 +6m11.8s

7 Jaroslav Orsák (CZE)/David Šmeidler (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +7m51.2s

8 Jean-Michel Raoux (FRA)/Laurent Magat (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000 +9m08.6s

9 Jaromír Tarabus (CZE)/Daniel Trunkát (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +9m18.4s

10 Robert Consani (FRA)/Vincent Landais (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000 +9m52.9s

FIA ERC Production Car Cup:

Vitaliy Pushkar (UKR)/Ivan Mishyn (UKR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4

FIA ERC 2WD Championship:

Evgeny Sukhovenko (RUS)/Sergei Larens (RUS) Renault Clio R3

ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Ekaterina Stratieva (BGR) Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy:

Craig Breen (IRL)

RALLY LEADERS

SS1: Bryan Bouffier

SS2-SS4: Kevin Abbring

SS5-SS13: Craig Breen

STAGE WINNERS

Day one (Saturday 29 March, 124.62 kilometres, asphalt):

SS1: Aghios Ioannis 1 (21.08kms): Bouffier/Érdi Jr/Slavov

SS2: Aghionori 1 (23.63kms): Abbring/Érdi Jr/Slavov

SS3: Psari 1 (17.60kms): Breen/Érdi Jr/Bessenyey

SS4: Aghios Ioannis 2 (21.08kms): Abbring/Érdi Jr/Slavov

SS5: Aghionori 2 (23.63kms): Bouffier/Érdi Jr/Bessenyey

SS6: Psari 2 (17.60kms): Breen/Érdi Jr/Bessenyey

Day two (Sunday 30 March, 114.22 kilometres, gravel except SS10):

SS7: Klenia-Mycenae 1 (18.19kms): Breen/Hudec/Sukhovenko

SS8: Nea Kineta 1 (22.20kms): Bouffier/Pushkar/Tempestini

SS9: Loutraki 1 (16.13kms): Kajetanowicz/Pushkar/Sukhovenko

SS10: Super Special Korinthos (1.18kms): Tarabus/Érdi Jr/Filip

SS11: Klenia-Mycenae 2 (18.19kms): Breen/Pushkar/Tempestini

SS12: Nea Kineta 2 (22.20kms): Bouffier/Pushkar/Sukhovenko

SS13: Loutraki 2 (16.13kms): Bouffier/Érdi Jr/Sukhovenko

KEY STATISTICS

ERC rally wins in 2014: Breen, Kubica and Lappi 1.

ERC stage wins in 2014: Kubica 8; Lappi 7; Bouffier and Pech 6; Breen and Kajetanowicz 4; Abbring and Gryazin 2; Baumschlager, Plangi, Tarabus and Wiegand 1.

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

Go to www.fiaerc.com for the championship positions following round three of 12.

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Breen counting the days to 208 T16 ERC lift-off

Breen counting the days to 208 T16 ERC lift-off

Craig Breen says he can’t wait for the Acropolis Rally and it’s not just because he’s a fan of the legendary Greek event, round three of the 2014 FIA European Rally Championship.

Instead, the reason for Breen’s keenness to tackle the Loutraki-based rally from 28-30 March is because he is due to drive a new-generation Peugeot 208 T16 in competition for the first time when the mixed-surface event gets underway.

“I can’t wait for the Acropolis and I desperately, desperately want to win a rally soon,” said Breen. “I tested before Christmas in Sardinia and I’m testing again in the south of France on some rough gravel stages soon. We’re really starting to make big progress with the car.”

Dutchman Kevin Abbring will partner Breen in a second Peugeot Rally Academy-entered 208 T16.

 

Al-Attiyah plans ERC double

Al-Attiyah plans ERC double

Multiple Middle East rally champion and Olympic medal winner Nasser Al-Attiyah is planning to tackle two FIA European Rally Championship rounds in 2014.

The Qatari driver, a former Dakar winner, will combine his ERC programme with several cross-country events and a Middle East title bid.

“I will contest two rounds of the European Rally Championship in Cyprus and Greece,” he said. “Cyprus is part of the Middle East Rally Championship as well. We’re trying to contest most rallies.”

The Acropolis Rally takes place in Greece from 28-30 March. The Cyprus Rally, which Al-Attiyah won in 2010 and 2012 when it counted as a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, runs from 19-21 September. Both events feature a combination of asphalt and gravel stages.

 

New Bronte Homeland stage for Circuit of Ireland Rally

New Bronte Homeland stage for Circuit of Ireland Rally

Circuit of Ireland Rally bosses have revealed details of the exciting Bronte Homeland stage, scheduled to be run twice on day two of the FIA European Rally Championship round on 19 April.

Measuring almost 30 kilometres in length, the stage is the longest of the all-asphalt spectacular and will link the towns of Banbridge and Rathfriland. Banbridge will also host a fan-friendly regroup on the afternoon of Saturday April 19 as part of a three-hour festival of family-based activities.

The Bronte Homeland stage will run through the area where Patrick Bronte, the father of celebrated novelists Emily, Charlotte and Anne Bronte, grew up. Stuart Allister and Joanne Magennis, dressed on Bronte period costume, joined Chairman of Banbridge District Council, Councilor Olive Mercer, and Rally Director Bobby Willis to launch the stage.

 

Italian duo shine on ERC Junior Championship opener

Italian duo shine on ERC Junior Championship opener

Fabrizio Andolfi and Andrea Crugnola overcame their lack of experience of driving on snow and ice to score points on the inaugural FIA ERC Junior Championship round in Latvia earlier this month.

The Italians were among 15 fellow young stars representing 11 different nations on Rally Liepāja. Crugnola finished fifth in his Napoca Rally Academy Peugeot 208 R2 with Andolfi ninth in his Gliese Engineering-run example.

Afterwards, Crugnola said: “We reached our target and scored some points. That is the most important thing.” Andolfi added: “It was not easy but I now have experience in these conditions.”

Jan Černy was the top ERC Junior in Latvia with Risto Immonen and Petter Kristiansen completing the podium in second and third respectively.

 

Q&A: Hermann Neubauer

Q&A: Hermann Neubauer

Austrian FIA ERC Production Car Cup star reveals life can be tough at the top following Rally Liepāja, where he extended his impressive point-scoring run in a Stohl Racing Subaru Impreza R4 STI.
You finished seventh in class on Rally Liepāja and are five points from the top of the ERC Production Car Cup standings. But was it a good or bad trip to Latvia for you?
“It was really disappointing to be honest. I was happy before the start to be a priority driver but I could not do a test before the rally and that meant I could not push in shakedown because I had no feeling for the studded tyres. When you are one of the first cars on the road for the stages in the snow, the disadvantage is really big and you cannot do anything.”

How difficult were the conditions?
“On the first loop we were the third car on the road and there was a lot of snow. You have to change your pacenotes a little bit because the snow makes you much slower. Then for the second loop it’s difficult to find the limit because the grip level is higher. It was difficult and I was fighting to stay on the road.”

You also had a few problems with your Subaru Impreza R4 STI?
“The exhaust was broken and I had no power. Then on one stage I was really, really lucky because I was flat out over a crest, some snow had been blown onto the road and we went off into the woods. We were lucky not to have a big accident but we lost one and a half minutes. I hope to go to Greece next for the Acropolis and maybe a new rally will bring me new luck.”

www.fiaerc.com

Huge interest as 15 drivers sign up for inaugural ERC Junior round

Huge interest as 15 drivers sign up for inaugural ERC Junior round

 

Fifteen of the best young rally drivers in Europe have signed up to contest the opening round of the inaugural FIA ERC Junior Championship in Latvia later this month.

A new concept for the 2014 season, the ERC Junior Championship is open to rising talents under the age of 25 driving R2-specification machinery.

They will count their best four scores from a total of seven rounds with the winner making selected appearances on ERC events in 2015 at the wheel of an R5 car. The championship will also benefit from exclusive highlights on Eurosport, dedicated online promotion and media training by ERC promoter Eurosport Events.

The ERC Junior Championship runners on Rally Liepāja are as follows:

Fabrizio Andolfi (Italy)
Jan Černý (Czech Republic)
Andrea Crugnola (Italy)
Marijan Griebel (Germany)
Risto Immonen (Finland)
Chris Ingram (United Kingdom)
Petter Kristiansen (Norway)
Jean-Mathieu Leandri (France)
Stéphane Lefebvre (France)
Mattias Olsson (Sweden)
Tomas Pospisilik (Czech Republic)
Steve Rokland (Norway)
Florin Tincescu (Romania)
Kevin van Deijne (Netherlands)
Aleks Zawada (United Kingdom)

Drivers can still enter the ERC Junior Championship ahead of the second event of the season, the Circuit of Ireland Rally from 17-19 April. Email Jean-Baptiste Ley at Eurosport Events for more information by clicking here.

 

Quadruple Polish champion Kajetanowicz to continue his ERC adventure in Latvia

Quadruple Polish champion Kajetanowicz to continue his ERC adventure in Latvia

Four-time Polish champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz will enter Rally Liepāja from 31 January-2 February as he bids to get his FIA European Rally Championship title assault back on track.

Co-driven by Jarek Baran, Kajetanowicz will contest the Latvian winter spectacular in the LOTOS Rally Team Ford Fiesta R5 he used to set three fastest stage times on the ERC season-opener in Austria earlier this month.

“Rally Liepāja is a completely new event to us,” said Kajetanowicz, who was battling for the lead on the 31 Int. Jännerrallye, Oberösterreich when a jammed throttle pedal put him out. “We do not know the stages, so first of all this is a big challenge but the slight uncertainty and curiosity at the same time makes us even more motivated. We are in fighting mood, just like before every other rally. We are looking forward to see what the organisers of the Latvian round of European championship have prepared for the competitors. The rally in Austria is already behind us and we are pleased with our good pace at the beginning of the season. There is only one plan for the future: always do our best and fight for every inch of the road.”

Kajetanowicz will go up against several fellow ERC frontrunners in Latvia including ŠKODA drivers Esapekka Lappi and Sepp Wiegand, local hero Vasily Gryazin and Peugeot Rally Academy ace Craig Breen. A total of 55 crews have entered the event.

Tempestini Jr set for ERC car swap

Tempestini Jr set for ERC car swap

Simone Tempestini will be swapping cars in this year’s FIA European Rally Championship, driving a Citroën DS3 R3, ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 and Subaru Impreza R4 STI.

The Romanian Junior champion will split his time between the Subaru and ŠKODA on the three ERC winter rallies before switching to the Citroën later in the season. He will also compete in Romania and in the World Rally Championship.

“We will have a busy schedule this year with rallies in ERC, WRC and the Romanian championship,” said Tempestini. “This is my learning period and I enjoy every stage in my career. It will be a great year for me for sure and it’s fantastic that I can start in the best rallies in the world in 2014.”

Tempestini forms part of the Napoca Rally Academy squad, which is overseen by his father and fellow competitor Marco Tempestini. He will use a Fabia S2000 on Rally Liepāja from 31 January-2 February.

New agreement secures ERC TV coverage in Lativa

New agreement secures ERC TV coverage in Lativa

Fans of the FIA European Rally Championship living in Latvia will get to enjoy extensive coverage of the series on television channel TV6.

TV6 will show a 52-minute highlight package from each round of the ERC with extra coverage of the Latvia-based Rally Liepāja also planned following an agreement between RA Events, SIA, MTG TV Latvia and ERC promoter Eurosport Events.
Latvia hosts round two of the 2014 ERC, Rally Liepāja, from 31 January-2 February.

Saintéloc to discover new stars with ERC Junior team

Saintéloc to discover new stars with ERC Junior team

Leading FIA European Rally Championship team Saintéloc Racing is branching out in 2014 with the creation of its new Junior Team.

Saintéloc, which oversaw the progression of a host of star names including Mathieu Arzeno and Craig Breen, has signed Corsican Jean-Mathieu Leandri for its ERC Junior campaign.

“Since its debut in rallying in 2011, Saintéloc’s policy has always been towards youngsters and performance,” said Saintéloc team manager Vincent Ducher. “Running Jean-Mathieu Leandri in the ERC Junior Championship is the logical follow-on in our determination to help young drivers reach the topmost level. Other drivers will come and join him in the near future in the ERC.”

Saintéloc has also confirmed that it will join forces with its partners to offer additional backing to one of its drivers who manages to win the ERC Junior title. More details about this exciting initiative will be announced in the near future.

Q&A: Robert Kubica

Q&A: Robert Kubica

The standout winner of the opening round of the FIA European Rally Championship, former grand prix racer Robert Kubica talks cooking, holidays and rallying.

Can you cook and what’s your signature dish?
“I can cook. I cook simple food, Italian style. I can do nice BBQs – I’m the master of BBQs. I prefer chicken and some seafood and stuff like this.”

What would be your ideal holiday destination?
“Actually it’s 10 years I have not been on holidays because I’m on holidays every day if I’m driving a car so there’s not really a place I would go to. My perfect day off would be driving an F1 car. Whatever grand prix doesn’t matter, it’s something that would be amazing.”

Who is your hero in life?
“I don’t have heroes but Pope John Paul II did amazing things for our country and I think Poles can be proud of the Pope we had.”

If you weren’t a rally driver what would you be doing to keep busy?
“I think I would be in motorsport working for a team or something but definitely in the motorsport world.”

What’s the hardest thing about being a rally driver?
“In rallying you have no possibility to learn each stage like you can a circuit so when you do these stages you have to take out as much information and try to use it in the future and evaluate every bit of the stage. You learn all the life, every day can bring new lessons.”

www.fiaerc.com

KUBICA LANDS THRILLING ERC VICTORY IN AUSTRIA

MOTORSPORT - EUROPEAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2014 - JANNER RALLY  (AUT) - 3 TO 5/01/2014 - PHOTO : GREGORY LENORMAND / DPPI - 
01 KUBICA ROBERT (POL) /SZCZEPANIAK MARCIN RK M SPORT WRT  - FORD FIESTA S2000 - ACTION \

*Formula One race winner earns top ERC Ice Master points

*Class success for local heroes Beppo Harrach and Michael Böhm

*Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy goes to Kubica

MOTORSPORT - EUROPEAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2014 - JANNER RALLY  (AUT) - 3 TO 5/01/2014 - PHOTO : FRANCOIS BAUDIN / DPPI - 
12 HARRACH BEPPO  (AUT) / WELSERSHEIMB - BEPPO HARRACH - MITSUBISHI EVO IX R4 - ACTION

Robert Kubica has secured the biggest win of his rally career as the FIA European Rally Championship season-opener once again came down to a thrilling final-stage decider in the stunning countryside of Upper Austria.

Kubica, a race winner in Formula One, started the closing 25.00-kilometre stage trailing Václav Pech by 11.8s but a stunning performance, coupled with an inspired tyre choice, enabled him to power to victory on the 31 Int. Jännerrallye, Oberösterreich.

MOTORSPORT - EUROPEAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2014 - JANNER RALLY  (AUT) - 3 TO 5/01/2014 - PHOTO : FRANCOIS BAUDIN / DPPI - 
05 PECH VACLAV (CZE) / UHEL PETR - EURO OIL INVELT TEAM - MINI JOHN COOPER 2000 - ACTION

While Pech – who selected slick tyres for his MINI John Cooper Works S2000 – struggled for grip on the mud and rain-hit final test, Kubica opted for a combination of studded and winter Michelin tyres fitted in a diagonal formation, which proved ideal for the demanding conditions.

Co-driven in his Ford Fiesta RRC by Maciej Szczepaniak for the first time, Kubica was fastest in the fog and dark by 23.0s to secure top spot over Pech by 19.9s and top the inaugural ERC Ice Master standings after he set eight fastest stage times.

The Polish driver’s efforts emulated Jan Kopecký’s victory of 2013 when the Czech reversed a deficit of 10.6s to claim first place. And Kubica’s winning margin could have been even higher but for a puncture on day one and a 10-second penalty for a jumped start on Sunday morning. He earned the Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy for his achievements, which was presented by two-time world rally champion Marcus Grönholm, who was in Austria working as an expert TV commentator for Eurosport.

“For sure it’s very nice to do be here as a winner but our priority was to get as much experience and information from this rally in order to prepare for Monte-Carlo,” said Kubica. “I did participate on four ERC events last year but I was often unlucky and made few mistakes as I was using the rallies for training. I was a bit more lucky this time but the conditions were very difficult and for sure this was one of the toughest weekends of my motorsport career.”

Czech champion Pech, who took the lead on Sunday morning when Kubica lost a few vital seconds with a minor brake issue, said: “The final stage was very hard with a lot of dirt. We went fast but we tried not to destroy the car. I’m disappointed not to have won but I tried my best and this was a good fight.”

Eleven-time Austrian champion Raimund Baumschlager completed the podium after overcoming a handful of set-up issues and a jump-start penalty of his own on day one. With a record-breaking 12th national title his target for 2014, Baumschlager’s season has got off to the perfect start after he secured top Austrian championship points.

Behind fourth-placed ERC Production Car Cup winner Beppo Harrach, Jaromír Tarabus began his ERC bid with a strong fifth overall. Andreas Aigner, the 2013 ERC Production Car Cup champion, impressed on his step up to the ERC’s headlining class by taking sixth in his Peugeot 207 S2000, which he was using in competition for the first time. Vasily Gryazin took a solid seventh ahead of his home round of the ERC in Latvia later this month. Roman Odložilík brought his Fiesta R5 home in eighth with Robert Consani overcoming a spin on the final stage to take ninth on his debut in a 207 S2000. Hermann Neubauer completed the top 10. Kajetan Kajetanowicz, who led before a jammed throttle pedal forced his exit on stage six, did not restart on leg two but is already preparing to face the serious competition ahead on his next appearance in the ERC.

FIA ERC Production Car Cup

While Beppo Harrach secured a comfortable victory in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX R4, Hermann Neubauer was hit by brake and gearbox issues at the wheel of his Subaru Impreza R4 STI. Ernst Haneder, whose bakery is located adjacent to the Jännerrallye service park in Freistadt, finished third. Kornél Lukács and Martin Hudec began their season-long campaigns in fifth and sixth respectively.

FIA ERC 2WD Championship

Michael Böhm was a convincing winner in the ERC 2WD Championship section in his Suzuki Swift S1600 with Czech Josef Peták and German Julius Tannert completing the top three. Reigning champion Zoltán Bessenyey restarted following his exit on Saturday and scored six bonus points for finishing second in class on leg two in his Eurosol Rally Team Hungary Honda Civic Type R.

ERC Ladies’ Trophy

Martina Daňelhová made her journey from neighbouring Czech Republic more than worthwhile by claiming the ERC Ladies’ Trophy laurels for the first time having battled back from a trip into a snow bank in the closing stages. Ekaterina Stratieva finished second.

WATCH INSIDE ERC ON EUROSPORT: TUESDAY 7 JANUARY, 23:30hrs-00:00hrs CET

TOP 10 POSITIONS (after 18 stages, 245.60 kilometres)
1 Robert Kubica (POL)/Maciej Szczepaniak (POL) Ford Fiesta RRC 2h47m06.9s

2 Václav Pech (CZE)/Petr Uhel (CZE) MINI John Cooper Works S2000 +19.9s

3 Raimund Baumschlager (AUT)/Klaus Wicha (DEU) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +1m38.9s

4 Beppo Harrach (AUT)/Leopold Welsersheimb (AUT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX R4 +3m00.3s

5 Jaromír Tarabus (CZE)/Daniel Trunkát (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +3m39.6s

6 Andreas Aigner (AUT)/Barbara Watzl (AUT) Subaru Impreza R4 STI +4m33.4s

7 Vasily Gryazin (LVA)/Dmitry Chumak (LVA) Ford Fiesta S2000 +6m27.4s

8 Roman Odložilík (CZE)/Martin Tureček (CZE) Ford Fiesta R5 +7m16.3s

9 Robert Consani (FRA)/Vincent Landais (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000 +9m22.2s

10 Hermann Neubauer (AUT)/Bernhard Ettel (AUT) Subaru Impreza R4 STI +11m39.6s

ERC Production Car Cup:

Beppo Harrach (AUT)/Leopold Welsersheimb (AUT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX R4
ERC 2WD Championship:

Michael Böhm (AUT)/Katrin Becker (GER) Suzuki Swift S1600

ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Martina Daňelhová (CZE)

Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy:

Robert Kubica (POL)

RALLY LEADERS

SS1-3: Kajetan Kajetanowicz

SS4-7: Raimund Baumschlager

SS8-9: Václav Pech

SS10-11: Robert Kubica

SS12-17: Václav Pech

SS18: Robert Kubica

STAGE WINNERS

Day one (Saturday 4 January, 138.40 kilometres):

SS1: Pierbach 1 (18.99kms): Overall: Kajetanovic/PC: Neubauer/2WD: Bessenyey

SS2: Liebenau 1 (10.22kms): Kajetanovic/Harrach/Böhm

SS3: St. Oswald 1 (8.30kms): Kubica/Černý/Böhm

SS4: Pierbach 2 (18.99kms): Baumschlager/Černý/Peták

SS5: Liebenau 2 (10.22kms): Kajetanovic/Harrach/Peták

SS6: St. Oswald 2 (8.30kms): Kubica/Harrach/Böhm

SS7: Pregarten 1 (8.76kms): Pech/Harrach/Böhm

SS8: Schönau-St. Leonhard 1 (22.93kms): Kubica/Harrach/Böhm

SS9: Pregarten 2 (8.76kms): Kubica/Harrach/Böhm

SS10: Schönau-St. Leonhard 2 (22.93kms): Kubica/Harrach/Böhm

Day two (Sunday 5 January, 107.20 kilometres):

SS11: Gutau 1 (8.27kms): Pech/Harrach/Böhm

SS12: Unterweisenbach 1 (12.54kms): Pech/Harrach/Böhm

SS13: Arena Königswiesen 1 (7.79kms): Pech/Harrach/Bessenyey

SS14: Gutau 2 (8.27kms): Kubica/Harrach/Bessenyey

SS15: Unterweisenbach 2 (12.54kms): Pech/Harrach/Sulzinger

SS16: Arena Königswiesen 2 (7.79kms): Pech/Harrach/Bessenyey

SS17: Bad Zell-Tragwein-Aistall 1 (25.00kms): Kubica/Harrach/Böhm

SS18: Bad Zell-Tragwein-Aistall 2 (25.00kms): Kubica/Harrach/Bessenyey

KEY STATISTICS

ERC rally wins in 2013: Kubica 1.

ERC stage wins in 2013: Kubica 8; Pech 6; Kajetanowicz 3; Baumschlager 1.

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

Go to www.fiaerc.com for the championship positions following round one of 12.

www.fiaerc.com

Kubica on top as champions flock to Austria for ERC season-opener

Kubica on top as champions flock to Austria for ERC season-opener

 

There will be serious competition ahead when the 2014 FIA European Rally Championship starts in Austria next month.

Headed by Formula One race winner and WRC 2 champion Robert Kubica, the 49-car entry list for the 31 Int. Jännerrallye, Oberösterreich, which was announced at a press conference in Linz yesterday, also includes ERC Production Car Cup champion Andreas Aigner, his ERC 2WD title-winning counterpart Zoltán Bessenyey, plus the national champions from Austria (Raimund Baumschlager), Czech Republic (Václav Pech) and Poland (Kajetan Kajetanowicz).

Top seed Kubica, who starred on four ERC appearances in 2013, will compete in an M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta RRC with fellow Pole Kajetanowicz at the wheel of a Fiesta R5. Pech will drive a MINI John Cooper Works with Baumschlager relying on ŠKODA Fabia S2000 power. Aigner, meanwhile, will compete in a Stohl Racing-run Peugeot 207 S2000, while Bessenyey will campaign his regular Honda Civic Type R for the Hungarian Eurosol outfit. Click here to view the draft entry list.

 

ERC aces step up for Jännerrallye

ERC aces step up for Jännerrallye

Several regulars from the FIA European Rally Championship will be taking a step up in performance when the 31 Int. Jännerrallye, Oberösterreich opens the new season from 3-5 January.

Andreas Aigner, Robert Consani and Hermann Neubauer are among the drivers sampling more advanced machinery than they used in 2013 with Aigner and Consani both competing in Peugeot 207 Super 2000s and Neubauer armed with a Subaru Impreza R4 STI for the first time.

Aigner, the ERC Production Car Cup champion, has scant experience of S2000 so will be counting on his Stohl Racing team for advice. Neubauer (pictured) will also be driving for Manfred Stohl’s Austria based team.

 

New Year’s Eve parties not pictured in the ERC

New Year’s Eve parties not pictured in the ERC

FIA European Rally Championship stars will be keeping their New Year’s Eve celebrations in check later this month.

With reconnaissance for the 31 Int. Jännerrallye, Oberösterreich – the opening round of the 2014 ERC season – starting on 1 January, crews contesting the winter event will be on their best behaviour.

Jarek Baran, who will co-drive Kajetan Kajetanowicz in a Ford Fiesta R5 in Austria, said: “We will spend New Year’s Eve in a rally environment. Most of the stages are the same comparing to the 2013 edition with only some cosmetic changes. The only question mark is the weather and the amount of snow during the rally.”

 

Satisfied Abbring prepares for big ERC chance

Satisfied Abbring prepares for big ERC chance

Kevin Abbring, who will contest a minimum of six FIA European Rally Championship rounds in a new-generation Peugeot 208 T16 next season, has spoken of a feeling of satisfaction after he landed the prize drive.

The Dutch promise won the prestigious seat after beating Stéphane Lefevbre to the 208 Rally Cup title last month. He said: “I had a fantastic season. It wasn’t easy as Stéphane gave me a run for my money right up until the last event. Overall, it’s been pretty good with five victories in seven rallies. The team and I can be proud of this as we were up against tough opposition. I’m going to be a works driver in the Peugeot Sport Academy in 2014 and I’ll drive the 208 T16. It’s a very satisfying reward.”

Abbring will partner Craig Breen in Peugeot Rally Academy’s two-strong ERC line-up in 2014.

 

Circuit of Ireland Rally boss welcomes capital city backing

Circuit of Ireland Rally boss welcomes capital city backing

Bobby Willis, the Circuit of Ireland Rally Director, has welcomed backing from Belfast City Council after it was confirmed that the FIA European Rally Championship round will start and finish in Northern Ireland’s capital city.

The Circuit of Ireland Rally takes place from 17-19 April 2014 with Belfast hosting the event service park, headquarters, plus the ceremonial start and finish.

“There are very few rallies in the world that get the opportunity to base themselves in a capital city,” said Willis, pictured left withCouncillor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, the Mayor of Belfast, and rising Northern Irish rally star Daniel McKenna.“The support and interest from Belfast has beenoverwhelming. The event will generate major economic and tourism benefits for the city, both in terms of visitor numbers and in positive television images, which will be broadcast around the world through Eurosport. The Circuit of Ireland has been hailed as a ‘flagship event’ among the 12 rallies of the European Rally Championship so I’m sure Belfast is set to feature as a highlight in this top international series.”

 

ERC champions make ŠKODA factory visit

ERC champions make ŠKODA factory visit

Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler used a visit to ŠKODA’s lead manufacturing plant in Mladá Boleslav recently to celebrate their FIA European Rally Championship triumph with employees from the car make.

Finns Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm, who will embark on a major ERC campaign in 2014, were also present along with Gaurav Gill and Glenn Macneall, the winners of the Asia-Pacific championship title.

“It was our hearts’ desire to personally thank the ŠKODA employees on behalf of all the drivers,” said Gill, who joined his colleagues in signing autographs and answering questions. “Without them, all our success would simply not be possible.”

 

Bessenyey confirms ERC 2WD title defence with Honda

Bessenyey confirms ERC 2WD title defence with Honda

Not content with winning the FIA ERC 2WD Championship for Drivers once, Zoltán Bessenyey will be attempting to defend his crown in 2014 when the season gets underway in Austria next month.

While the Hungarian ace has yet to finalise his precise schedule, he will start his title defence on the 31 Int. Jännerrallye, Oberösterreich from 3-5 January in a Honda Civic Type R run by the Eurosol team from his homeland and co-driven by his partner Yulianna Nyirfas.

“It’s already certain that we’ll start in Austria, but after that we don’t know as we’ve not completely finalised which rallies we’ll compete in yet,” said Bessenyey. “But to prepare ourselves for the winter rallies, over the next few days we’re heading off to practice on the snow and ice of Norway. We’re leaving nothing to chance.”

Bessenyey, who works as a TV presenter in his native Hungary when he’s not competing on ERC events, will continue to enjoy the support of Honda Motor Europe partner team JAS Motorsport. The Italian firm provides on-even technical and logistical support to Honda customers.

 

Bonnefis reveals recovery is on track

Bonnefis reveals recovery is on track

Germain Bonnefis, who shone for Team Renault Sport Technologies on several rounds of the 2013 FIA ERC Production Car Cup before injury cut short his season, says he is ready to get behind the wheel of a rally car once again.

The talented Frenchman hasn’t competed since he fractured a vertebra in a heavy crash on the Croatia Rally back in September. However, a period of rehabilitation means he is almost ready to return to competition.

Although Bonnefis has yet to finalise his campaign for 2014, he nevertheless expects to be competing again soon. “The injury is good, now I just wait to see what I will drive,” he said.

 

In the spotlight: Sepp Wiegand

In the spotlight: Sepp Wiegand

A former motocross rider, the 22-year-old German sensation will embark on a major FIA European Rally Championship campaign in 2014 at the wheel of a factory ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 with backing from ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland. Wiegand is switching to the ERC on the back of a successful WRC 2 campaign in 2013, when he also made a one-off appearance in the ERC as part of the three-strong ŠKODA factory attack on Barum Czech Rally Zlín back in late August.

www.fiaerc.com

WALES RALLY GB – THE FINAL ROUND OF THE FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, MOLLY TAYLOR IS READY TO THE START OF A RALLY THAT SHE LOVES

Molly_Taylor

The Molly Taylor’s 2013 season  probably will end with the Wales Rally GB,  a rally where the Australian driver  raced very well in 2012. After winning the “FIA ERC Ladies‘ Trophy” Molly is ready for the  final round of the Citroen Top Driver and of the WRC3. “Wales Rally GB definitely was one of our best events last year – said Molly Taylor –  I love the rally, I think this year it will be quite competitive, because of the points in the Citroen top driver the guys in that series will be going as hard as they can. There are also many local drivers from the British championship taking part in the event, it’s probably going to be the most competitive event we’ve ever done in terms of fast people on board Citroen DS3 cars, it’ll be really exciting for us. We’ll go out there being in a different position from the one we’ve had all of this year, when we had to work towards the ERC ladies‘ trophy; here it’s just one event, so it’s nice to have that kind of freedom for once, one chance to go out and be competitive and see where we rank”. The Wales Rally GB 2013 will have the start ceremony on Thursday 14 November in the town of Conwy on the North Wales coast. The itinerary includes 24 Special stages, more than half of which are either totally new or haven’t been featured in the World Championship since the Nineties and the rally will end on Sunday 17 of November with the Podium in the town of Llandudno.

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JETSETTER LAPPI FLIES TO GLORY ON SWISS ERC FINALE

Rally International du Valais, Martigny 07-09 11 2013

*Victory for ŠKODA driver six days after China Rally Longyou success

*Gonon wins ERC Production Car Cup for Subaru, Michel takes ERC 2WD laurels

*Ancian receives Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy following charging drive

The all-action 2013 FIA European Rally Championship reached its climax in Switzerland this afternoon with rising star Esapekka Lappi underlining his huge potential by winning an action-packed Rallye International du Valais alongside co-driver Janne Ferm.

Lappi began Saturday’s final leg – the longest of the rally at 146.30 kilometres – with an advantage of 43.7s over Andreas Aigner. Although Aigner trimmed Lappi’s lead to 35.7s when the ŠKODA Motorsport ace overshot a junction this morning, the Finn’s tenure of top spot was never truly threatened and he cemented his second ERC victory by going fastest of all on the final stage in his Michelin-shod Fabia Super 2000.

“It’s been quite a good two weeks,” said Lappi, who won the China Rally Longyou six days ago. “I never believed I would win here and this is absolutely fantastic. For sure it’s special on Tarmac, my first proper win. It’s very good to end the season like this. We’re improving on Tarmac and this is good for next season. The plan for next year is to do some races with ŠKODA. I have a contract with them and the ERC would be a good option.”

Florian Gonon secured ERC Production Car Cup honours after fellow Subaru Impreza R4 STI driver Aigner crashed out one kilometre from the start of stage 14. Sylvain Michel clinched the ERC 2WD spoils in a Citroën DS3 R3T by overhauling Laurent Reuche on the final stage when the two-time Valais winner’s Renault Clio R3 developed an engine fault. Ekaterina Stratieva won the ERC Ladies’ Trophy, while there were strong performances from GPD Mit Metal Racing Team and Team Renault Sport Technologies.

While Lappi shone out front, Aigner was also hugely impressive in his production-based Subaru. The Austrian was second overall when he hit trouble. While he and driver Barbara Watzl were uninjured, their Yokohama-shod car suffered extensive damage and they retired. Watzl’s non-finish means Aigner’s former navigator Jürgen Heigl wins the ERC Production Car Cup for Co-drivers*.

“We said we would try today because Andi is already the Production champion,” explained Aigner’s team boss Manfred Stohl. “We never give up but finally luck was not on our side. It’s very disappointing because it was a great performance by them.”

With Aigner out, Olivier Burri moved into second place with Vasily Gryazin climbing to third. Unfortunately for Russian teenager Gryazin, a crash close to the start of stage 15 left his Ford Fiesta S2000 sporting damage to the rear. Although Burri began the final two stages more than one minute clear of Craig Breen, an engine misfire robbed his Fiesta RRC of vital power. But the eight-time Valais winner held on to the runner-up spot albeit by a significantly reduced margin of eight seconds following a tense finale. “It was getting worse and worse on the last two stages,” said Burri. “I don’t know if we would have finished if we had another stage.”

For Breen, his capture of the final podium spot marked a reversal of fortune after a time penalty and broken powersteering added more than three minutes to his total time and dropped him out of contention for victory. His failure to score the 27 points needed to overhaul Bryan Bouffier in the battle to finish runner-up to champion Jan Kopecký in the final standings* means he settles for third in the overall classification.

“Third place is not what I came here for or hoped for before the rally,” said Breen. “It’s not an improvement from the beginning of the season but taking everything into account it’s not so bad.”

Peugeot Rally Academy team-mate Jérémi Ancian was saddled by four minutes of penalty but fought back from this setback and a puncture on stage 14, which he stopped to change, to snatch fourth spot from Jaroslav Orsák on the last stage. Ancian scored a total of seven stage wins in his 207 Super 2000, including both runs through the new Verbier stage today. His battling performance earned him the prestigious Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy.

Orsák, meanwhile, marked his first ERC appearance in a Fabia S2000 and his comeback from injury with fifth place and a stage win for GPD Mit Metal Racing Team. Nicolas Althaus finished sixth with Gonon seventh and Pascal Perroud eighth after a minor off-road excursion. Behind ERC 2WD winner Sylvain Michel in ninth, Romain Salinas came home a highly creditable 10th overall on his ERC debut for Team Renault Sport Technologies. Stéphane Lefebvre was leading the R2 category when he retired with engine failure on his Peugeot 208.

The 2014 ERC season begins in Austria with the 31 Int. Jännerrallye, Oberösterreich from 3-5 January followed by Rally Liepāja in Latvia from 31 January-2 February.

WATCH INSIDE ERC ON EUROSPORT: TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER, 23:15hrs-23:45hrs CET

TOP 10 POSITIONS (after 18 stages, 287.84 kilometres)
1 Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 3h13m42.8s

2 Olivier Burri (CHE)/André Saucy (CHE) Ford Fiesta RRC +3m28.2s

3 Craig Breen (IRL)/Lara Vanneste (BEL) Peugeot 207 S2000 +3m36.2s

4 Jérémi Ancian (FRA)/Olivier Vitrani (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000 +6m21.1s

5 Jaroslav Orsák (CZE)/Lukáš Kostka (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +6m26.7s

6 Nicolas Althaus (CHE)/Alain Ioset (CHE) Peugeot 207 S2000 +6m42.9s

7 Florian Gonon (CHE)/Michel Horgnies (CHE) Subaru Impreza R4 STI +7m57.7s

8 Pascal Perroud (CHE)/Quentin Marchand (CHE) Peugeot 207 S2000 +13m59.9s

9 Sylvain Michel (CHE)/Sandra Arlettaz (CHE) Citroën DS3 R3T +13m17.7s

10 Romain Salinas (FRA)/Benjamin Micheli (FRA) Renault Mégane R.S. N4 +14m12.4s

ERC Production Car Cup:

Florian Gonon (CHE)/Michel Horgnies (CHE) Subaru Impreza R4 STI

ERC 2WD Championship:

Sylvain Michel (CHE)/Sandra Arlettaz (CHE) Citroën DS3 R3T

Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy:

Jérémi Ancian (FRA)

RALLY LEADERS

SS1: Jérémi Ancian and Craig Breen

SS2: Craig Breen

SS3: Andreas Aigner

SS4-SS18: Esapekka Lappi

STAGE WINNERS

Day one (Thursday 7 November, 30.80 kilometres):

SS1: Crans-Montana (11.66kms): Overall: Ancian and Breen/PC: Aigner/2WD: Michel

SS2: Anzère (12.96kms): Breen/Aigner/Michel

SS3: Les Casernes 1 (6.18kms): Lappi/Aigner/Michel

Day two (Friday 8 November, 110.74 kilometres):

SS4: Vercorin 1 (26.58kms): Ancian/Aigner/Reuche

SS5: Veysonnaz 1 (13.62kms): Ancian/Aigner/Reuche

SS6: Nendaz 1 (12.08kms): Ancian/Aigner/Reuche

SS7: Vercorin 2 (26.58kms): Lappi/Aigner/Reuche

SS8: Veysonnaz 2 (13.62kms): Lappi/Aigner/Reuche

SS9: Nendaz 2 (12.08kms): Ancian/Aigner/Reuche

SS10: Les Casernes 2 (6.18kms): Orsák/Aigner/Michel

Day three (Saturday 9 November, 146.30 kilometres):

SS11: Champex 1 (9.53kms): Breen/Aigner/Michel

SS12: Bruson 1 (19.96kms): Breen/Aigner/Reuche

SS13: Verbier 1 (15.52kms): Ancien/Aigner/Stage cancelled for ERC 2WD crews

SS14: Les Cols (37.13kms): Breen/Gonon/Reuche

SS15: Champex 1 (9.53kms): Breen/Gonon/Michel

SS16: Bruson 1 (19.96kms): Lappi/Gonon/Reuche

SS17: Verbier 1 (15.52kms): Ancian/Gonon/Reuche

SS18: Col des Planches (25.15kms): Lappi/Gonon/Michel

KEY STATISTICS

ERC rally wins in 2013: Jan Kopecký 6; Giandomenico Basso 1; Bryan Bouffier 1; Kajetan Kajetanowicz 1; Jari Ketomaa 1; Esapekka Lappi 1; Freddy Loix 1.

ERC stage wins in 2013: Jan Kopecký 49; Bryan Bouffier 25; Craig Breen 23; Robert Kubica 18; Jari Ketomaa 8; Jérémi Ancian 7; Esapekka Lappi 6; Freddy Loix 6; Kajetan Kajetanowicz 5; Roman Kresta 4; Raimund Baumschlager 3; Andreas Aigner 2; Paolo Andreucci 2; François Delecour 2; Martin Kangur 2; Bernardo Sousa 2; Pieter Tsjoen 2; Pavel Valoušek 2; Giandomenico Basso 1; Jan Černý 1; Beppo Harrach 1; Luis Monzón 1; Ricardo Moura 1; Jaroslav Orsák 1; Hayden Paddon 1; Václav Pech 1; Umberto Scandola 1; Juraj Šebalj 1.

ERC event winners in 2013

01: International Jännerrallye (Austria)
Jan Kopecký (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000

ERC Production Car Cup:

Beppo Harrach (AUT)/Leopold Welsersheimb (AUT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX R4
ERC 2WD Championship:

Hannes Danzinger (AUT)/Kathi Wüstenhagen (GER) Renault Clio R3

02: Rally Liepāja-Ventspils (Latvia)
Jari Ketomaa (FIN)/Kaj Lindström (FIN) Ford Fiesta RRC

ERC Production Car Cup:

Vytautas Švedas (LIT)/Žilvinas Sakalauskas (LIT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

ERC 2WD Championship:

Risto Immonen (FIN)/Mikko Lukka (FIN) Citroën C2 R2 Max

03: Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés (Spain)
Jan Kopecký (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000

ERC Production Car Cup:

Andreas Aigner (AUT)/Jürgen Heigl (AUT) Subaru Impreza R4 STI

ERC 2WD Championship:

Gorka Antxustegi (ESP)/Alberto Iglesias (ESP) Suzuki Swift Sport S1600

ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Ekaterina Stratieva (BGR) Citroën C2 R2

04: SATA Rallye Açores (Portugal)         
Jan Kopecký (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000

ERC Production Car Cup:

Alessandro Bruschetta (ITA)/Justin Bardini (ITA) Subaru Impreza R4 STI
ERC 2WD Championship:

Zoltán Bessenyey (HUN)/Yulianna Nyirfas (HUN) Honda Civic Type R

ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

No eligible driver was classified in the final results

05: Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse (France)      

Bryan Bouffier (FRA)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Peugeot 207 Super 2000

ERC Production Car Cup:

Andreas Aigner (AUT)/Jürgen Heigl (AUT) Subaru Impreza R4 STI

ERC 2WD Championship:

Kornél Lukács (HUN)/Mark Mesterhazi (HUN) Citroën C2 R2 Max

ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Molly Taylor (AUS) Citroën DS3 R3T

06: Geko Ypres Rally (Belgium)  

Freddy Loix (BEL)/Frédéric Miclotte (BEL) ŠKODA Fabia S2000

ERC Production Car Cup:

Andy Lefevere (BEL)/Andy Vangheluwe (BEL) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

ERC 2WD Championship:

Xavier Baugnet (BEL)/Eric Borguet (BEL) Peugeot 208 R2

ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Melissa Debackere (BEL) Peugeot 207 S2000

07: Sibiu Rally (Romania)

Jan Kopecký (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000

ERC Production Car Cup:

Toshi Arai (JPN)/Anthony McLoughlin (AUS) Subaru Impreza R4 STI

ERC 2WD Championship:

Sebastian Barbu (ROU)/Horatiu Baltador (ROU) Citroën DS3 R3T
ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Molly Taylor (AUS) Citroën DS3 R3T

08: Barum Czech Rally Zlín (Czech Republic)

Jan Kopecký (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000

ERC Production Car Cup:

Miroslav Jakeš (CZE)/Igor Norek (CZE) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
ERC 2WD Championship:

Jan Černý (CZE)/Pavel Kohout (CZE) Peugeot 208 R2
ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Molly Taylor (AUS) Citroën DS3 R3T

09: LOTOS 70 Rally Poland                                              

Kajetan Kajetanowicz (POL)/Jarosław Baran (POL) Ford Fiesta R5

ERC Production Car Cup:

Dominykas Butvilas (LTU)/Renatas Vaitkevičius (LTU) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX R4

ERC 2WD Championship:

Radosław Raczkowski (POL)/Łukasz Gwiazda (POL) Citroën DS3 R3T

ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Molly Taylor (AUS) Citroën DS3 R3T

10: Croatia Rally

Jan Kopecký (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000

ERC Production Car Cup:

Andreas Aigner (AUT)/Barbara Watzl (AUT) Subaru Impreza R4 STI

ERC 2WD Championship:

Aleks Humar (SVN)/Florjan Rus (SVN) Renault Clio R3
ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Asja Zupanc (SVN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX

11: Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Giandomenico Basso (ITA)/Mitia Dotta (ITA) Peugeot 207 Super 2000

ERC Production Car Cup:

Federico Gasperetti (ITA)/Federico Ferrari (ITA) Renault Mégane R.S. N4

ERC 2WD Championship:

Alex Vittalini (ITA)/Sara Tavecchio (ITA) Citroën DS3 R3T

12: Rallye International du Valais (Switzerland)

Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000)

ERC Production Car Cup:

Florian Gonon (CHE)/Michel Horgnies (CHE) Subaru Impreza R4 STI

ERC 2WD Championship:

Sylvain Michel (CHE)/Sandra Arlettaz (CHE) Citroën DS3 R3T

ERC Ladies’ Trophy:

Ekaterina Stratieva (BUL)

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

Go to www.fiaerc.com for the championship positions following round 12 of 12.

ERC Champions in 2013*

FIA European Rally Championship for Drivers: Jan Kopecký (CZE)

FIA European Rally Championship for Co-drivers: Pavel Dresler (CZE)

FIA European Rally Championship for Teams: GPD Mit Metal Racing Team (CZE)

FIA Production Car Cup for Drivers: Andreas Aigner (AUT)

FIA Production Car Cup for Co-drivers: Jürgen Heigl (AUT)

FIA Production Car Cup for Teams: Napoca Rally Academy (ROU)

FIA 2WD Championship for Drivers: Zoltán Bessenyey (HUN)

FIA 2WD Championship for Co-drivers: Yulianna Nyirfás (HUN)

FIA 2WD Championship for Teams: Eurosol-Honda Civic Type R (HUN)

FIA ERC Ladies’ Trophy: Molly Taylor (AUS)

A brand-new app for iPhone and android provides live timing, news and other essential information as well as live ERC Rally Radio. Visit the official ERC website, www.fiaerc.com. Follow the ERC on Facebook and Twitter and watch the action on Eurosport and Eurosport Player.

*Subject to confirmation of the results by the FIA

www.fiaerc.com

Aigner holds narrow lead following dramatic start to Valais ERC finale

Andreas Aigner and co-driver Barbara Watzl lead Rallye International du Valais after an action-packed start to the FIA European Rally Championship season-finale in Switzerland today.

Driving a Subaru Impreza R4 STI on Yokohama tyres, they are 3.7s ahead of Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm – in a Michelin-shod ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 – after Thursday’s opening leg, which consisted of three stages based around the town of Sion.

Craig Breen, who can move into second place in the final ERC drivers’ standings if he scores 27 points or more in Valais, had been on top after two stages but a two-minute time penalty for an early check-in prior to stage three means he languishes in 16th position and 1m55.2s off the pace heading into Friday’s second leg. His Peugeot Rally Academy team-mate Jérémi Ancian was penalised by three minutes for a similar offence. As a result the Frenchman is 28th overall and 2m55.4s behind leader Aigner.

Breen and Ancian’s demotion is in stark contrast to the euphoric scenes at the finish of stage one when they shared the joint-fastest time in their 207 Super 2000s. It got better for Breen when he went fastest outright on the next test as Ancian lost vital seconds when his vision was temporarily obscured by low-lying sun. Despite a hesitant run on Thursday’s closing stage through the grounds of the army barracks in Sion, Breen appeared to hold an advantage of 0.2s over Ancian only for the penalties to be applied to their end-of-day totals.

“The first stage was slippery, the second stage I settled into a good rhythm but I was a bit cautious on the last stage because it was easy to take a wheel off in there,” said Breen, who, like Ancian, ran out of order on stages two and three after being delayed in traffic on a road section. “But my speed has been good enough to fight for victory and we will continue the fight tomorrow.”

As well as leading overall, Aigner tops the ERC Production Car Cup, while Lappi’s performance follows on from his victory on China Rally Longyou last weekend. “It’s been a very good day with no problems,” said Aigner. “The biggest problem was starting the second stage on time because there were a lot of traffic and road works. The last stage was not easy because there was mud from the shakedown. But there were a lot of fans so that was nice.”

Olivier Burri is third overnight and the top Swiss driver but is far from happy with the set-up of his Ford Fiesta RRC, which he’s driving in competition for the first time on the back of 10 kilometres of pre-event running. Russian teenager Vasily Gryazin is a strong fourth with Swiss champion Grégoire Hotz fifth, Sébastien Carron sixth and Nicolas Althaus seventh.

Jaroslav Orsák is back on ERC duty and eighth overnight after missing the last two rounds through injury. The Czech struggled through the opening leg running on hard-compound tyres in the damp and slippery conditions that featured on all three stages. Competing in a Fabia S2000 for the first time in three years, Orsák had to complete stage three with no working handbrake but still managed to set the second quickest time.

GPD Mit Metal Racing Team-mate Antonín Tlusťák lost time with a persistent misfire, which struck on the opening run. He’s 12th overall. Behind Aigner in the battle for ERC Production Car Cup honours, Florian Gonon is second in class in a similar Subaru Impreza R4 STI with Robert Consani next up for Team Renault Sport Technologies.

Sylvain Michel heads the ERC 2WD Championship section in his Citroën DS3 R3T followed by Xavier Tornay and Mike Coppens. Peugeot Rally Academy’s Stéphane Lefebvre is the leading R2 class contender, while Ekaterina Stratieva heads the FIA ERC Ladies’ Trophy classification. Only one of the 68 starters, Honda Civic driver Xavier Craviolini, failed to make it through Thursday’s trio of stages.

Leg two features seven stages over a competitive distance of 110.74 kilometres and begins with the 26.58 kilometres of Vercorin at 09:45hrs local time on Friday.

A brand-new app for iPhone and android provides live timing, news and other essential information as well as live ERC Rally Radio. Visit the new ERC website, www.fiaerc.com. Follow the ERC on Facebook and Twitter and watch the action on Eurosport and Eurosport Player.

www.fiaerc.com

All eyes on Breen ahead of Valais 2013 ERC finale

All eyes on Breen ahead of Valais 2013 ERC finale

 

The focus will be on Craig Breen when the 2013 FIA European Rally Championship concludes in Switzerland next week as he attempts to land the coveted runner-up spot in the final standings.

Peugeot Rally Academy ace Breen starts Rallye International du Valais on 7 November 26 points behind Bryan Bouffier in the race to finish second to ERC champion Jan Kopecký*.

With Bouffier not able to compete in Switzerland after he was unable to secure the necessary funding, Breen can demote his French rival to third place if he wins the mainly asphalt-based event, which runs between Sion and Martigny.

Rallye International du Valais features 18 stages over a competitive distance of 287.84 kilometres. More than 70 crews are expected to take part on the event, which also counts as the final round of the Swiss championship. *Subject to confirmation of the results by the FIA

 

Coverage boost for ERC Rallye International du Valais

Coverage boost for ERC Rallye International du Valais

The final round of this year’s FIA European Rally Championship will benefit from extensive coverage in Le Matin, the number one newspaper in French-speaking Switzerland.

A long-term partner of Rallye International du Valais, Le Matin has recently announced the continuation of its support of the event until 2016.

“Le Matin aims at being a high quality popular newspaper that informs and gives food for thought while offering a moment of relaxation,” a statement from the event organisers read. “In tune with its readers‘ preoccupations, it puts forward subjects of actuality, tells the story of the stars, offers practical advice for everyday life and decodes the sport behind the scene.

“With 317.000 readers, Le Matin is a privileged vector to promote the Rallye International du Valais. In addition to the numerous spaces that are devoted to the event during the weeks ahead of the race, a 32-page supplement printed at about 200,000 copies is inserted in Le Matin Dimanche (nearly 500,000 readers), which is issued on the Sunday preceding the start.”

Rallye International du Valais takes place between Sion and Martigny from 7-9 November.

 

Success keeps on coming for ERC fast lady Taylor

Success keeps on coming for ERC fast lady Taylor

Having secured the inaugural FIA ERC Ladies’ Trophy* on the back of a highly impressive campaign in 2013, Molly Taylor added to her run of success with a strong performance on the Ronde della Val d’Orcia, a gravel event in Italy last weekend.

Featuring one 11-kilometre stage run four times, Taylor and stand-in co-driver Giacomo Ciucci set the pace in the two-wheel-drive category before going on to finish second in class in 12th overall.

Molly said “Giacomo did a fantastic job adapting to the conditions and calling English pacenotes for the very first time.”

Taylor’s next event is the world championship-counting Wales Rally GB from 14-17 November when she’ll be reunited with regular co-driver Seb Marshall in their United Business-backed Citroën DS3 R3T. *Subject to confirmation of the results by the FIA

 

ERC ace Orsak reveals new car and new look for Valais

ERC ace Orsak reveals new car and new look for Valais

This is how Jaroslav Orsák’s ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 will look when he contests round 12 of the 2013 FIA European Rally Championship, Rallye International du Valais, next week.

Orsák has missed the last two rounds of the ERC in Croatia and Italy through injury but is now back in action, only this time the GPD Mit Metal Racing Team star has swapped his regular Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX R4 for a pacesetting Fabia S2000 for the Swiss event, which takes place between Sion and Martigny from 7-9 November.

“Due to a road accident we were forced to miss some events in the ERC and lost the chance to fight for the Production Car Cup title,” Orsák explained. “We wanted to get back into a rally car as soon as possible, so we will start on Rallye du Valais with a new car in our garage – a ŠKODA Fabia S2000. Our main target is to get back into a rhythm and test this car before next season."

 

Major recognition for ERC 2WD star Pita

Major recognition for ERC 2WD star Pita

Renato Pita, a regular competitor in the FIA ERC 2WD Championship, has been named by the Portuguese government as the country’s new Ambassador for Ethics in Sports.

Pita has combined his ERC programme in a Peugeot 208 R2 with promoting a major road safety campaign in his homeland, Etapa Segura.

His efforts have now been recognised with this important new role, details of which have been outlined in a statement from the Portuguese driver’s representatives: “Renato will give his personal testimony in several initiatives and promote values as fair play, the respect for rules and regulations, responsibility and friendship, tolerance and mutual aid, wellbeing and volunteering, as well as the importance of lifelong learning. The role is aimed mainly at children and teenagers living in Portugal.”

Internationale Jannerrallye 2014 plans take shape

Internationale Jannerrallye 2014 plans take shape

The planned opening round of the 2014 FIA European Rally Championship*, the Internationale Jännerrallye, will feature 18 stages over a competitive distance of 245.60 kilometres, when it takes place from 3-5 January 2014.

Next year’s event, which will once again be based in the town of Freistadt near Linz in Upper Austria, runs from Friday until Sunday.

A copy of the rally guide, itinerary and several useful maps are available for download from the official event website, www.jaennerrallye.at or by clicking here. *Subject to ratification by the FIA World Motor Sport Council

In the spotlight: Sebastian Barbu

In the spotlight: Sebastian Barbu

Sebastian Barbu, a 29-year-old rising star from Romania, made an instant impact in the FIA European Rally Championship when he claimed ERC 2WD honours on the Sibiu Rally in his native Romania back in July. He impressed on his return to the series in Croatia in late September, setting the third fastest time overall on the event’s rain-hit second stage only to crash out in the closing stages following a rare error. He also impressed when he took part on Rallye Sanremo for the first time earlier this month.

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FIA President Todt visits ERC round

FIA President Todt visits ERC round

 

Jean Todt, the President of motorsport’s world governing body, the FIA was an interested visitor to round 10 of the FIA European Rally Championship in Croatia last week.

President Todt visited the service park in host town Poreč and also followed the action as the battle for victory on the Croatia Rally drew to a close.

“I’m very happy that Eurosport Events is the promoter for the European Rally Championship,” President Todt told the Inside ERC programme. “And I’m very pleased to be here in Croatia. We attended the FIA World Council in Dubrovnik [on Friday]. It gave me the opportunity to refresh myself and to enjoy the rally atmosphere. Indeed, there is a new breeze in the European championship.

“Sometimes there is a big fight, ending with a battle for seconds on the last stage. Even more important, I noticed that the public is very enthusiastic and that’s very important for motorsport and its development. There are also very attractive rallies in the European championship and there is the new R5 category that several car manufacturers are interested in. That will make the rallies even more affordable.”

Italian legends gear up for Sanremo ERC thriller

Italian legends gear up for Sanremo ERC thriller

Two of Italy’s best drivers, Paolo Andreucci and Giandomenico Basso, will both be in action when the FIA European Rally Championship resumes on Rallye Sanremo next week.

Multiple Italian champion Andreucci and two-time ERC title-winner Basso will go up against a host of regulars from the European championship on the legendary asphalt counter which is based in the Italian riviera town from 10-12 October.

And they will be evenly matched with both competing in Peugeot 207 Super 2000s, which were unbeatable in Sanremo from 2009-2011. It’s also the car of choice for Bryan Bouffier and Craig Breen. They are in a close battle for second place in the ERC standings with two rounds left.

The full Rallye Sanremo entry list will be published on Saturday 5 October. Keep visiting www.fiaerc.com for more information.

ŠKODA Motorsport boss backs ERC

ŠKODA Motorsport boss backs ERC

ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek celebrated Jan Kopecký’s maiden FIA European Rally Championship title* by outlining the benefits the company enjoys by competing in the ERC.

The Czech manufacturer has helped the last two ERC drivers’ champions to the crown with Juho Hänninen winning in 2012 prior to Kopecký’s success alongside co-driver Pavel Dresler.

“We can increase the reputation of our brand image, promote ŠKODA and show the real product and the technology to the competition,” said Hrabánek.

Of ŠKODA’s plans for 2014, Hrabánek insisted that nothing had been finalised. “We are working continuously on our plans but I can assure you that we will stay in motorsport, in rally sport. What category and what car is still open, it’s too early to talk about this,” he said.

Peugeot optimistic as 208 T16 debut gets closer

Peugeot optimistic as 208 T16 debut gets closer

Peugeot Sport boss Bruno Famin says he is “optimistic” that the 208 T16 will be on the pace when the R5-specification machine makes its FIA European Rally Championship debut next season.

The new-generation challenger was used as a course car on the Geko Ypres Rally ahead of its planned homologation on 1 January 2014.

“The car is almost for sale now,” said Famin. “We still have quite a lot of work to do but we have the time to finalise everything in absolute performance and reliability. We are optimistic but of course optimism is one thing but the race is another thing.”

Peugeot’s 208 T16 will be available for customer use only with no factory team planned. “There will be only one specification of car, the best one, and everyone will have the best one,” added Famin. “We will help all our customers in the same way, working on the set-up and giving this information to everybody.”

Champions crowned in the ERC*

Champions crowned in the ERC*

Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler are not the only people celebrating in the FIA European Rally Championship after they clinched the drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles respectively*.

Napoca Rally Academy put the ERC Production Car Cup for Teams beyond doubt with a strong result on the Croatia Rally where Molly Taylor clinched the ERC Ladies’ Trophy* (pictured).

GPD Mit Metal Racing Team and Eurosol-Honda Civic Type R have long since been uncatchable in the European Rally Championship for Teams and ERC 2WD Championship for Teams respectively.

With two rounds remaining, several titles have yet to be sewn up with the ERC Production Car Cup tightly poised heading to Rallye Sanremo next week.

*Subject to confirmation of the results by the FIA

In the spotlight: Hermann Gassner Jr

In the spotlight: Hermann Gassner Jr

Once ranked as one of Germany’s brightest young stars, lack of finance has largely forced Hermann Gassner Jr to step off the international trail for 2013. The former German champion, 24, and Red Bull athlete has managed to make selected appearances in his homeland and in Europe this season alongside working as a mechanic for his father Hermann Sr’s preparation business, but his undoubted talent makes him worthy of more outings on higher-profile events. He finished third on the Croatia Rally in second place in the ERC Production Car Cup and hopes his performance will attracted much-needed financial support.

ERC Press