MOTOR SPORTS Citroen Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Roars back into Action
Craig Breen Rallying: Circuit of Ireland Rally (Event Preview)
There’s no better medicine than to get back out there when something goes wrong in any sport and that’s especially true in rallying. After the disappointment at the Bulldog, Craig and Gareth have the perfect opportunity to put that episode behind them as the Easter Holiday weekend beckons the traditional trip to the Circuit of Ireland, as the Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship roars back into action with round two. Over the year's Rallying in Ireland has been defined by one weekend, that's the Easter Weekend and the Circuit of Ireland Rally. On Saturday next another chapter will be written in the events famous history and playing a major part will be Craig Breen in the "Kick Energy" Ford Fiesta S2000.
Craig débuted the Fiesta S2000 at the opening round in Galway where he sensationally finished second overall, scoring twelve points and also picket up three bonus points for being the first non World Rally Car finisher in the overall classification.
Craig’s view on the weekend and the Circuit next weekend
“It’s been a long time since I didn’t complete a rally and the retirement on Saturday was very hard to take. The first round of a new championship season is very important as it’s give you a base on which to work from. This was how I was so successful last year. The non finish at the Bulldog gives my rivals the advantage but I’ve grown a lot over the last twelve months and I take this as not a set back but on the other hand a challenge. The next round of the BRC is the Pirelli International and last season it proved to be one of the high lights of the year for me, my team and I will be working on repeating that kind of performance this year”.
“Looking ahead to the Circuit, I want to keep my run going from Galway, The rally will be as tough as usual and the centrepiece will be the night stage which will be interesting. Last year I went well on the night stages at the Jim Clark, so a good recce will be required. The characteristics of the stages will be different from that of Galway as they are usually fast and flowing, that is why I took in the National Championship round in Mayo where we tested gear ratios. Gareth and I will recce on Thursday and Friday and we can’t wait for that first stage on Saturday”.
This year’s circuit is based in the Park Inn Hotel, Dundalk with the fifteen stage event covering stages in Counties Down, Armagh, Louth and Monaghan. A marathon 29km night-time stage will be the centrepiece of this year’s rally with thousands of fans expected to descend on Dundalk for the ceremonial start on Easter Saturday. Craig is seeded at number six. All the usual suspects are attending, championship leader after Galway Gareth MacHale (06 Ford Focus WRC) is the top seed, Derek McGarrity driving a Subaru Impreza S12B is in second place and the top three is completed by Tim McNulty in another Impreza S12 B. Craig is classified as the top Group N competitor at sixth with Alastair Fisher following in seventh and the top ten is completed with Garry Jennings, Richard Carthcart, and Alan Ring. Nine stages are scheduled for Easter Saturday, then on Easter Sunday six stages will be run in the Castleblayney/Crossmaglen area.
Links
Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Website