Craig Breen going for the SWRC title this weekend

h3000

Craig Breen is right in the fight to take the SWRC title this weekend. He goes into this weekend Rally de Espana 2 points clear of Swedens PG Anderson. If Craig finishes in front of PG he is guaranteed the title. That won't be all too easy though, PG is very an experienced and talented driver and like Craig will be really going for it this weekend. Craig will again be partnered by Killarney's Paul Nagle in the Co-Drivers seat.
Craig has shown incredible courage to even still be rallying never mind being in contention for a championship win after the awful tragedy that took the life his friend and co-driver Gareth Roberts last June. Craig and Gareth took the win in the WRC Academy championship last year.

I have my fingers and tows crossed he can do it.


Northern Irelands Alastair Fisher will also be competing in the SWRC class this weekend.

Come on the Irish

liam7831

Alastair in a Proton, P.G's team mate, hopefully he aint in a situation where he has to choose between the two lads

liam7831

He really needs to win the championship too or his career could be over due to financial constraints which is a bummer

h3000

liam7831 wrote: »

Alastair in a Proton, P.G's team mate, hopefully he aint in a situation where he has to choose between the two lads

Yeah that could get very interesting. There is an article about it here.:D:D
http://www.wrc.com/swrc/news/when-friendships-collide-in-the-wrc/?fid=17805

Alastair is a fine pilot but I don't think he will be in contention this weekend. New car and I don't think he has been in any S2000 for a while.

wobbles

I dont think Fisher will have an impact in a straight out fight. Not because hes not capable, but i feel the situation wont suit him. New car, unreliable car, unfamiliar car and really bad luck all year.

However, it wont be as simple as that. If breen has a problem and looses time, then Fisher could play a very important part

h3000

wobbles wrote: »

I dont think Fisher will have an impact in a straight out fight. Not because hes not capable, but i feel the situation wont suit him. New car, unreliable car, unfamiliar car and really bad luck all year.

However, it wont be as simple as that. If breen has a problem and looses time, then Fisher could play a very important part

That's true, there could be a lot of twists and turns too it. Paddon will be going flat out too, he has Red Bull sponsorship this weekend and I'm sure he will really want to impress.

overshoot

how much of an influence can he have really given the current points system, with only 2 bewteen them pg would have to be 4th and craig 5th before your looking at them level with each other and pg needs the extra car between them. barring a near disasterous weekend for both its hard to see beyond at least one of them being on the podium.
to me its a straight shoot out with al rajhi lurking if they both crash out:pac: (even then id fancy paddon to win the race which would put breen as champ)

h3000

overshoot wrote: »

how much of an influence can he have really given the current points system, with only 2 bewteen them pg would have to be 4th and craig 5th before your looking at them level with each other and pg needs the extra car between them. barring a near disasterous weekend for both its hard to see beyond at least one of them being on the podium.
to me its a straight shoot out with al rajhi lurking if they both crash out:pac: (even then id fancy paddon)

No one apart from Craig and PG themselves will have a real part unless the both hit drama this weekend alright. The only time it would have a real impact is if there was a car between Craig and PG in front. They will both have to go for it from the off until one makes a mistake. If they finish on equal points I think Craig will take it on rally wins.
Should be a good rally. I can see the Ford boys in WRC giving it a real go for the farewell too.

h3000

I'll have WRC radio in my ear all day at work tomorrow

h3000

Breen out in front after Friday mornings loop. Craig lost some time to PG on the first two stages after the wrong tyre choice but took over a minute back when PG ran into diff problems on SS3. Paddon also stopped on SS3.

Pos No Driver Time Diff Prev Diff 1st
1. 32 C. BREEN 54:38.4 0.0 0.0
2. 33 P. ANDERSSON 55:48.3 +1:09.9 +1:09.9
3. 36 Y. AL RAJHI 56:46.5 +58.2 +2:08.1
4. 34 A. FISHER 57:47.0 +1:00.5 +3:08.6
5. 35 M. OLEKSOWICZ 58:29.2 +42.2 +3:50.8
6. 49 A. LLOVERA 1:04:08.0 +5:38.8 +9:29.6

Drummerboy08

Best of luck to Craig this weekend, would be a great way to finish the year after all that has gone on.

De Hipster

h3000 wrote: »

Breen out in front after Friday mornings loop. Craig lost some time to PG on the first two stages after the wrong tyre choice but took over a minute back when PG ran into diff problems on SS3. Paddon also stopped on SS3.

Pos No Driver Time Diff Prev Diff 1st
1. 32 C. BREEN 54:38.4 0.0 0.0
2. 33 P. ANDERSSON 55:48.3 +1:09.9 +1:09.9
3. 36 Y. AL RAJHI 56:46.5 +58.2 +2:08.1
4. 34 A. FISHER 57:47.0 +1:00.5 +3:08.6
5. 35 M. OLEKSOWICZ 58:29.2 +42.2 +3:50.8
6. 49 A. LLOVERA 1:04:08.0 +5:38.8 +9:29.6

Super-duper on the updates - was about to ask how the online radio coverage is going!

All pairs of everything (reasonable exceptions only) crossed for them.

h3000

De Hipster wrote: »

Super-duper on the updates - was about to ask how the online radio coverage is going!

All pairs of everything (reasonable exceptions only) crossed for them.

There is carnage in the WRC too Petter, Neuville, Prokop, Olivera, Sordo & Mikkelsen all out. It sounds like Petter hit the same rock as last year too :o

Overall Leaderboard after SS3
Pos No Driver Time Diff Prev Diff 1st
1. 10 M. ØSTBERG 51:18.8 0.0 0.0
2. 5 O. TÄNAK 51:21.5 +2.7 +2.7
3. 2 M. HIRVONEN 51:31.9 +10.4 +13.1
4. 1 S. LOEB 51:38.3 +6.4 +19.5
5. 3 J. LATVALA 52:13.9 +35.6 +55.1
6. 23 J. NIKARA 52:28.2 +14.3 +1:09.4
7. 22 E. NOVIKOV 52:33.3 +5.1 +1:14.5
8. 12 C. ATKINSON 53:51.4 +1:18.1 +2:32.6
9. 7 H. WEIJS 54:06.4 +15.0 +2:47.6
10. 32 C. BREEN 54:38.4 +32.0 +3:19.6

Ciano35

h3000 wrote: »

There is carnage in the WRC too Petter, Neuville, Prokop, Olivera, Sordo & Mikkelsen all out. It sounds like Petter hit the same rock as last year too :o

Overall Leaderboard after SS3
Pos No Driver Time Diff Prev Diff 1st
1. 10 M. ØSTBERG 51:18.8 0.0 0.0
2. 5 O. TÄNAK 51:21.5 +2.7 +2.7
3. 2 M. HIRVONEN 51:31.9 +10.4 +13.1
4. 1 S. LOEB 51:38.3 +6.4 +19.5
5. 3 J. LATVALA 52:13.9 +35.6 +55.1
6. 23 J. NIKARA 52:28.2 +14.3 +1:09.4
7. 22 E. NOVIKOV 52:33.3 +5.1 +1:14.5
8. 12 C. ATKINSON 53:51.4 +1:18.1 +2:32.6
9. 7 H. WEIJS 54:06.4 +15.0 +2:47.6
10. 32 C. BREEN 54:38.4 +32.0 +3:19.6

Breen coming 10th O/A? Nice one

De Hipster

h3000 wrote: »

There is carnage in the WRC too Petter, Neuville, Prokop, Olivera, Sordo & Mikkelsen all out. It sounds like Petter hit the same rock as last year too :o

Overall Leaderboard after SS3
Pos No Driver Time Diff Prev Diff 1st
1. 10 M. ØSTBERG 51:18.8 0.0 0.0
2. 5 O. TÄNAK 51:21.5 +2.7 +2.7
3. 2 M. HIRVONEN 51:31.9 +10.4 +13.1
4. 1 S. LOEB 51:38.3 +6.4 +19.5
5. 3 J. LATVALA 52:13.9 +35.6 +55.1
6. 23 J. NIKARA 52:28.2 +14.3 +1:09.4
7. 22 E. NOVIKOV 52:33.3 +5.1 +1:14.5
8. 12 C. ATKINSON 53:51.4 +1:18.1 +2:32.6
9. 7 H. WEIJS 54:06.4 +15.0 +2:47.6
10. 32 C. BREEN 54:38.4 +32.0 +3:19.6

Looks like YT will make good Sunday afternoon watching!

h3000

Not the same rock according to Petter & Chris

Julian Porter &#8207 wrote: »

Just spoke to Petter & Chris, they confirm it was NOT the same rock as last year, 1 km further into the stage.

Robbo

SS5 and Craig pulls out another nearly 3 minutes on Andersson, leaving him 3:38 out front in the SWRC and 7th overall. He's doing a great job on what sounds like a horribly tricky day.

h3000

Craig well out in front now after PG had a spin bent some steering arms and lost nearly three minutes to Craig. Craig 7th overall too. There is still a long rally to go though and it's not always as easy as it sounds to be that far in front. Fingers crossed though.

SWRC after SS5
Pos No Driver Time Diff Prev Diff 1st
1. 32 C. BREEN 1:44:47.8 0.0 0.0
2. 33 P. ANDERSSON 1:48:26.6 +3:38.8 +3:38.8
3. 35 M. OLEKSOWICZ 1:53:19.8 +4:53.2 +8:32.0
4. 31 H. PADDON 1:59:35.2 +6:15.4 +14:47.4

The carnage continues too with Atkinson, Novikov, FISHER, AL RAJHI & LLOVERA all stopped/off in SS5


WRC Leaderboard after SS5
Pos No Driver Time Diff Prev Diff 1st
1. 10 M. ØSTBERG 1:38:53.7 0.0 0.0
2. 1 S. LOEB 1:39:18.8 +25.1 +25.1
3. 3 J. LATVALA 1:39:43.0 +24.2 +49.3
4. 2 M. HIRVONEN 1:39:59.3 +16.3 +1:05.6
5. 5 O. TÄNAK 1:40:07.2 +7.9 +1:13.5
6. 25 S. OGIER 1:43:52.3 +3:45.1 +4:58.6
7. 32 C. BREEN 1:44:47.8 +55.5 +5:54.1
8. 7 H. WEIJS 1:45:01.0 +13.2 +6:07.3
9. 23 J. NIKARA 1:47:11.9 +2:10.9 +8:18.2
10. 33 P. ANDERSSON 1:48:26.6 +1:14.7 +9:32.9










Edit: Robbo beat me too it

bbsrs

Sat - 1st Loop Finished

Craig is now heading for midday service and has had another great morning. He leads SWRC by 3:42.1 and is 7th O/A

h3000

Craig took it handy today but still with a commanding lead. Very mature drive from the lad. 3 minutes 20 ahead of PG and 7th overall . 6 stages over 94km tomorrow. Fingers crossed he brings it home.

Best of luck to Craig & Paul

SWRC Leaderboard
Pos No Driver Overall Time Diff Prev Diff 1st
1. 32 C. BREEN 3:28:40.3 0.0 0.0
2. 33 P. ANDERSSON 3:31:59.6 +3:19.3 +3:19.3
3. 36 Y. AL RAJHI 3:42:08.6 +10:09.0 +13:28.3
4. 34 A. FISHER 3:42:54.2 +45.6 +14:13.9
5. 31 H. PADDON 3:46:16.2 +3:22.0 +17:35.9
6. 35 M. OLEKSOWICZ 3:51:56.2 +5:40.0 +23:15.9


Overall Leaderboard
Pos No Driver Time Diff Prev Diff 1st
1. 1 S. LOEB 3:16:14.1 0.0 0.0
2. 3 J. LATVALA 3:16:41.1 +27.0 +27.0
3. 2 M. HIRVONEN 3:17:28.2 +47.1 +1:14.1
4. 5 O. TÄNAK 3:17:42.9 +14.7 +1:28.8
5. 10 M. ØSTBERG 3:17:45.5 +2.6 +1:31.4
6. 7 H. WEIJS 3:25:17.0 +7:31.5 +9:02.9
7. 32 C. BREEN 3:28:40.3 +3:23.3 +12:26.2
8. 22 E. NOVIKOV 3:29:39.2 +58.9 +13:25.1
9. 23 J. NIKARA 3:29:53.2 +14.0 +13:39.1
10. 33 P. ANDERSSON 3:31:59.6 +2:06.4 +15:45.5

Brian_Zeluz

Nice to see the Irish media are really clued into this, from RTE: "Craig Breen remains on course to retain his World Rally title after extending his lead in Rally de Espana"

http://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/rally/2012/1110/345094-breen-extends-rally-de-espana-lead/

Good luck to Craig and Paul this weekend and in the future. Hopefully he gets the exposure and money he needs to continue, we know he already has the skill.

h3000

Brian_Zeluz wrote: »

Nice to see the Irish media are really clued into this, from RTE: "Craig Breen remains on course to retain his World Rally title after extending his lead in Rally de Espana"

http://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/rally/2012/1110/345094-breen-extends-rally-de-espana-lead/

It's ridiculous alright but at least he got some sort of mention for a change. The Irish media in general take no notice of motorsport unless someone is injured or worse then it's all over the front page with people who haven't a clue calling for bans on the sports. We probably have had one of the best national rally championships in the world and our motorcycle road racing is right up there too. There is huge talent in this country that never get the recognition they deserve. I think it plays a big part in the difficulties that Craig and others have with getting sponsorship.


I really hope Craig gets a drive next year. He really deserves it.

h3000

I can't post the table this morning but Craig is still out in front. He is taking it very slow but still leads PG by 2.42. Last 3 stages kick off in about 1 hour.

h3000

Safely through SS16. Two to go. Go on Craig & Paul.

h3000

All good after SS17. Just a short 4km stage left now. Huge emotion in the car at end of last stage. Come on boy you so deserve it.

h3000

He done it :D:D

De Hipster

h3000 wrote: »

It's ridiculous alright but at least he got some sort of mention for a change. The Irish media in general take no notice of motorsport unless someone is injured or worse then it's all over the front page with people who haven't a clue calling for bans on the sports. We probably have had one of the best national rally championships in the world and our motorcycle road racing is right up there too. There is huge talent in this country that never get the recognition they deserve. I think it plays a big part in the difficulties that Craig and others have with getting sponsorship.


I really hope Craig gets a drive next year. He really deserves it.

To be fair to RTE - 2FM covered Breen's progress in most news bulletins over the weekend.

Clearly MSI need to work harder on the media liaison front & have ready-to-go standard press releases for all outlets - they are the voice and governance of the sport in Ireland; they nee to be more pro-active.

Robbo

De Hipster wrote: »

To be fair to RTE - 2FM covered Breen's progress in most news bulletins over the weekend.

Clearly MSI need to work harder on the media liaison front & have ready-to-go standard press releases for all outlets - they are the voice and governance of the sport in Ireland; they nee to be more pro-active.

There should be more done centrally by someone well connected to make Dawson Street earn it's keep.

It's a consistent failing of Irish competitors that they have chronically bad press releases but that's a matter for another thread.

De Hipster

Robbo wrote: »

There should be more done centrally by someone well connected to make Dawson Street earn it's keep.

It's a consistent failing of Irish competitors that they have chronically bad press releases but that's a matter for another thread.

Entire board required to rectify the issues - I was pleasantly surprised that they had national media coverage at all.

MSI have paid staff & a Communications company on the books - Positive PR should be rolling out week-by-week rather than fire-fighting when tragedy strikes.