Well done Craig Breen - WRC Academy

h3000

Craig Breen just took his first victory in the WRC Academy. Really delighted for him. He has been so unlucky on the last 3 rounds. Lets hope he can keep it up.

:D:D:D

wobbles

Well done to craig. Hes quicker than anyone else in the academy but has been let down a few times by the car.

h3000

wrc.com wrote:

.
Egon Kaur's run of success in the FIA WRC Academy Cup is over after Craig Breen claimed a dramatic maiden win in the young driver-training category on ADAC Rallye Deutschland, which was decided after the opening 14 stages.

Irishman Breen was embroiled in a close battle with Spaniard Yeray Lemes and prevailed by a mere 15.1s following a tense showdown on the Arena Panzerplatte stage this evening.

Breen began the 34.18-kilometre test 9.6s in front of Lemes. Having lost out on victory to Kaur on the last stage on the previous round in Finland, he was determined not to finish second again.

“That was absolutely incredible,” said Breen, part of the six-strong Pirelli Star Driver scheme, a joint initiative between the FIA, motorsport’s world governing body, and the Italian tyre firm to back young talent. “I was absolutely on the limit and I have to thank Yeray for pushing me that hard. There was no way I was going to be beaten again so I went on maximum attack.”

Lemes started the final day with a lead of 36.2s over Breen but a mistake one kilometre into the second stage this morning cost him vital time. “I missed a left-hand junction and we couldn’t reverse onto the road because we were down from the road and the grass was wet,” said Lemes. “Then I lost third gear on stage 10.”

Kaur, the winner of the opening three rounds for the category for identical Ford Fiesta R2s, languished in eighth position at the finish in following tame showing, which culminated in an off-road moment on the final stage.

“It was at a right junction and I just slid off,” he said. “I tried to go through the ditch but there were solid items in the ditch. I had a puncture but changed it in the stage. I’m disappointed, this should not have happened.”

Italian Andrea Crugnola beat Jose Suarez for the final podium spot by 15 seconds after the Spaniard stalled and damaged his car’s gearbox when he went off on stage 10. “I tried by best but took no risks. I drove with safety in mind,” said Crugnola.

Jan Cerny took fifth with Fredrik Ahlin sixth. Sepp Wiegand, on a one-off outing in the WRC Academy, was seventh. Behind Kaur, Alastair Fisher’s recovery from his puncture on Friday’s final test brought him back to ninth although he could have challenged Wiegand had it not been for another deflation on the final stage. Timo van der Marel completed the top 10.

Miko-Ove Niinemae was 11th despite a scare prior to the first Panzerplatte stage. “The morning was OK, although I lost too much time on Panzerplatte because our jack broke so we couldn’t change the tyres before the stage like we’d planned. I lost all grip towards the end of the stage - it was like ice! It’s all been great experience for me though, so it will help me improve.”

After finishing 12th Sergey Karyakin said: “I’m still learning but I’m quite disappointed that I had no good stage times yet. I’m learning how the Tarmac drives and until I understand that I won’t be able to go quicker.”

Australians Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor were 13th and 14th respectively.

http://www.wrc.com/wrc-academy/news/wrc-academy-wrap-breen-takes-maiden-win/?fid=15233

overshoot

the lads a top driver and has a great career ahead of him, a win in france will guarantee him second although he is already +30 on 3rd and then he can go for it in wales and give kaur a run for his money.
well done lad!

reiger

fairplay to the boy big pressure on him going to germany it was make or brake,and he done the job its still in mix for the title,kaur dont seem to hot on tar and well rally GB should be craig after last years show in the S2000.

so heres hoping he'll get a good run against the IRC regulars this weekend in Zlin

losthorizon

Pity I dont have any of the channels that show the WRC since it left Dave.

ratedR

Is he still in with a chance of winning this, or is his best hope second ?
What's the prize for winning this, and what are his plans for next year ?

wobbles

Hes still in with a chance. Theres one more tarmac round left in France, and then a gravel rally in the UK. Championship leader, E. Kaur is on 92 points with Craig second on 66 points. Kaur didnt do too well on the last tarmac round, and you would imagine Breen would do much better than him in the UK so its still wide open. That being said, its all down to luck. If breens car held together on the first few rounds, he would be well ahead in the championship.

I think the first prize is 500,00e

afatbollix

Ya prize is E500k which would be great help to him..

He is doing a rally in Czech republic at the mo and is in 8th really giving it up to the top guys!

wobbles

Finished 7th overall. Great drive and only beaten by works/ex works drivers. Setting top 10 times once he got settled in. Would like to see him do more IRC rounds next year if he gets the chance