WRC/ERC/Irish & British Rallying 2014 - News and Chat

h3000 · 03-01-2014 10:33pm

http://www.irallylive.com/ir_news.htm?00005864&10

iRally wrote:

Craig Breen will drive a Fiesta RS WRC at Rally Sweden next month with Scott Martin as co-driver. The news, announced tonight by his management company VV Sport Management, is at pains to explain that Breen, who's expected to spearhead Peugeot Sport's 2014 ERC efforts once the new 208 T16 is homologated in March, has had special release from Peugeot to compete in Sweden.

Craig Breen wrote:

“Firstly I am very grateful to Peugeot Sport for allowing me to take this opportunity to participate in Rally Sweden. We are purely focused on the ERC this year, and the much anticipated debut of the 208 T16 in March. However, it goes without saying that a chance to drive in the WRC is something that we couldn't turn down."

"This opportunity is something that I have dreamed of obtaining since I was a young boy, so to finally have my chance is something I am really excited about."

"This year will also see the introduction of a new co-driver for me in the form of Scott Martin. Scott and I have already tested together, and we are anxiously awaiting the start of our Peugeot Rally Academy programme."

afatbollix · 03-01-2014 11:34pm

Criag himself owns the car and its his company who rents it out to other people.

h3000 · 03-01-2014 11:43pm

afatbollix wrote: »

Criag himself owns the car and its his company who rents it out to other people.

Oh right, thanks. I taught it was Ray's car.

chopperbyrne · 04-01-2014 12:28am

Any news on a TV deal yet?

h3000 · 04-01-2014 12:45am

chopperbyrne wrote: »

Any news on a TV deal yet?

I don't think anything is confirmed yet but ITV4 and Motors TV are looking likely apparently.

guyfo · 04-01-2014 8:00pm

h3000 wrote: »

I think his dad bought a Fiesta WRC which he hires out and runs (team).

If its the car Craig used to drive you're referring to its not a wr car its an S2000.

h3000 · 04-01-2014 8:09pm

guyfo wrote: »

If its the car Craig used to drive you're referring to its not a wr car its an S2000.

The S2000 is sold a while back. They have a WRC now.

wobbles · 04-01-2014 8:26pm

The S2000 was sold to Barrable before he got the R5 feista. They now have a WRC although who exactly owns it I dont know. Either way the Breens own it.

Have they had it hired out much abroad. Only James Colman has used it in Ireland. Hope someone in Ireland hires it out for a few ITC rounds next year. There were rumours of more WRC/RRCs being in Ireland next year but theres always rumours this time of year.

h3000 · 04-01-2014 8:58pm

wobbles wrote: »

The S2000 was sold to Barrable before he got the R5 feista. They now have a WRC although who exactly owns it I dont know. Either way the Breens own it.

Have they had it hired out much abroad. Only James Colman has used it in Ireland. Hope someone in Ireland hires it out for a few ITC rounds next year. There were rumours of more WRC/RRCs being in Ireland next year but theres always rumours this time of year.

Didn't Barrable only do a couple of rounds in the S2000 before he got the R5. I wonder does he still have the S2000.
I think it was in France a little while back. I don't know with who though. I also could just be making it up, I do that from time to time

wobbles · 04-01-2014 11:12pm

He did do a few events in the s2000, Finland being one. Not sure where it is now, could even be upgraded to the r5 he currently has.

h3000 · 06-01-2014 12:06am

h3000 wrote: »

Didn't Barrable only do a couple of rounds in the S2000 before he got the R5. I wonder does he still have the S2000.
I think it was in France a little while back. I don't know with who though. I also could just be making it up, I do that from time to time

When I say it I mean the WRC. I was a few pints in at that stage last night.

kksaints · 06-01-2014 1:17am

Kubica won the Janner rally the opening round of the ERC today.

afatbollix · 10-01-2014 11:11am

wobbles wrote: »

He did do a few events in the s2000, Finland being one. Not sure where it is now, could even be upgraded to the r5 he currently has.

The R5 was a brand new car built for him. Seen it at his first event when he got the keys.

M sport don't even stick the stickers on it for you..

h3000 · 10-01-2014 11:31am

Speaking of M-Sport, i think this looks like a great 'affordable' program for young drivers to get on the world stage. A really nice prize for the winner too.

M-Sport wrote:

DMACK and M-Sport have joined forces to provide a cost-effective series within the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship which offers an incredible prize drive of a full WRC 2 season in a Ford Fiesta R5 car in 2015.

The Drive DMACK Fiesta Cup will use M-Sport's proven Ford Fiesta R2 rally car to provide a platform to encourage fierce competition among the world's top young rally talent. Competitors will battle over five European rounds of the WRC using DMACK tyres with the winner guaranteed a full seven-round WRC 2 campaign in the hugely popular Fiesta R5.

Registered competitors will be supplied with identical Fiesta R2s prepared and maintained by M-Sport. With the series set to cost a fixed fee of just £99,950, it will be the most affordable way for aspiring drivers to showcase their talent on the world stage.

Click here for full story

Robbo · 10-01-2014 11:58am

h3000 wrote: »

Speaking of M-Sport, i think this looks like a great 'affordable' program for young drivers to get on the world stage. A really nice prize for the winner too.

Beats the new JWRC setup into a cocked hat. Citroen getting the contract to run it was insane. I know which way I'd go if I was an ambitious young driver with a few quid behind me.

h3000 · 10-01-2014 12:17pm

Robbo wrote: »

Beats the new JWRC setup into a cocked hat. Citroen getting the contract to run it was insane. I know which way I'd go if I was an ambitious young driver with a few quid behind me.

Definitely so. I think the Citroen JWRC campaign is going to be very close to €200k madness.

h3000 · 10-01-2014 12:29pm

Peugeot 2014 ERC program released.

PEUGEOT Sport wrote:

PEUGEOT RALLY ACADEMY 2014

The Peugeot Rally Academy, which was created in 2013 with a programme founded on the FIA European Rally Championship, is looking forward to its second season of competition in 2014. Designed to provide a framework for the promotion of talented drivers and models like the 208 T16 and 208 R2, this year’s Peugeot Rally Academy line-up will once again feature three youngsters, namely Irishman Craig Breen, Dutchman Kevin Abbring and Frenchman Stéphane Lefebvre. The Peugeot Rally Academy’s 2014 programme will kick off in Latvia at the end of January.

Building up to the 208 T16’s debut

Peugeot Sport’s eagerly-awaited new spearhead is currently undergoing final fine-tuning adjustments ahead of its homologation on March 1. Cars are being assembled concurrently in order for delivery to early customers to begin in the weeks ahead. Craig Breen and Kevin Abbring will both drive a 208 T16 in this year’s de FIA ERC in which their twofold mission will be to win events and continue to showcase their respective skills.

As in 2013, Craig Breen will contest eight rounds of the FIA-ERC, beginning with the Rally Liepaja (Latvia) in a 207S2000 before the 208T16’s competition debut on the Acropolis Rally (Greece). His co-driver for the season is Scott Martin.

Meanwhile, Kevin Abbring takes over from Jérémi Ancian in the Peugeot Rally Academy squad. Thanks to his victory in last year’s 208 Rally Cup France, and despite his young age, the 24-year old Dutchman has already carved out an international reputation for himself and his name was frequently cited in the same breath as that of Mikkelsen in 2012! His first outing with the Peugeot Rally Academy will be the Acropolis Rally (Greece) and all his six appearances will be in the 208 T16.

.
.
.
.
.

January 31-February 2: Latvia, C. Breen (207 S2000) and S. Lefebvre (208R2)

March 28-30: Acropolis (Greece): C. Breen (208T16) and K. Abbring (208 T16)

April 17-19: Ireland, C. Breen (208T16) and K. Abbring (208 T16)

May 15-17: Acores (Portugal), C. Breen (208T16), K. Abbring (208 T16) and S. Lefebvre (208R2)

June 19-21: Ypres (Belgium), C. Breen (208T16), K. Abbring (208 T16) and S. Lefebvre (208R2)

August 29-31: Barum (Czech Republic), C. Breen (208T16) and K. Abbring (208 T16)

October 23-25: Valais (Switzerland), C. Breen (208T16)

November 6-8: Corsica (France), C. Breen (208T16), K. Abbring (208 T16) and S. Lefebvre (208R2)

Click here for full story

h3000 · 10-01-2014 8:30pm

It's looking like BTsport, MotorsTV and ITV4 for WRC coverage.

h3000 · 15-01-2014 10:17am

And we're off..........(ish)

Shakedown has started in Monte Carlo, times so far are:
OGIER 2:15,3
MEE+1,2
ØST+1,2
LAT+2,9
KUB+3,0
NEU+3,1
HIR+3,5
SOR+5,1
MIK+5,1
BOU+6,6
EVA+6,7
PRO+7,3

I splashed out for a BT-Sport subscription, I was thinking about it for MotoGP but then the WRC coverage was announced I said I'd treat myself. Really looking forward to the live stage coverage.

mjhickeyie · 15-01-2014 12:03pm

h3000 wrote: »

And we're off..........(ish)

Really looking forward to the live stage coverage.

I presume that is only on BT Sport?

Good start for Meeke.

It looks like Motors TV will be showing daily highlights. Missed that last year.

h3000 · 15-01-2014 12:08pm

mjhickeyie wrote: »

I presume that is only on BT Sport?

Good start for Meeke.

It looks like Motors TV will be showing daily highlights. Missed that last year.

Yeah, live coverage is on BT Sport only.

I joined a league on http://www.fantasywrc.com/ which should be fun. It's #WRCLiveTwitterati if anyone else wants to join.

recyclebin · 15-01-2014 2:16pm

Great to have so many TV options this year.

leoch · 15-01-2014 2:49pm

h3000 how much was the bt sport subscription

h3000 · 15-01-2014 2:59pm

leoch wrote: »

h3000 how much was the bt sport subscription

You need to get it through the Setanta subscription. I went for the annual sub of €199. You get BT Sport 1 & 2, ESPN and the Setanta channels included in the sub.

mjhickeyie · 15-01-2014 3:08pm

leoch wrote: »

h3000 how much was the bt sport subscription

Setanta have good deals from time to time.

It was one euro for the month of december incl BT Sport.

They might do something similar later in the year.

h3000 · 15-01-2014 8:45pm

Has anyone else signed up to fantasywrc.com ?

mjhickeyie · 16-01-2014 12:34am

h3000 wrote: »

Has anyone else signed up to fantasywrc.com ?

Yes, I've signed up. 10m doesn't go very far!

h3000 · 16-01-2014 12:49am

mjhickeyie wrote: »

Yes, I've signed up. 10m doesn't go very far!

No it doesn't. Join the #WRCLiveTwitterati league if you have not already. It should be a bit of fun for the season.

h3000 · 16-01-2014 8:45am

I think I'll keep this spoiler free but it's a really exciting start to Monte and WRC 2014

I'm absolutely gobsmacked by Kubica's speed this morning.

Robbo · 16-01-2014 10:34am

Notwithstanding that Neuville binned it early in SS1, the Hyundai's running well in Bouffier's hands. Meeke up to second after an inspired tyre choice in SS3, this is a proper Monte classic already.

Also none of the VWs are having a particularly good time of it so that's great for the championship.

WRC/ERC/Irish & British Rallying 2014 - News and Chat

Comments