Rallye International du Valais (Switzerland) (J) - 23-25 Oct 14

AWESOME ERC FOURSOME AIM FOR LEADING SWISS ROLE

Posted: October 23, 2014 12:23 PM

Four top driving talents will showcase the Serious Competition Ahead in the FIA European Rally Championship when Rallye International du Valais hosts the thrilling race to clinch the coveted ERC title from 23-25 October.

Based in the canton of Valais in southwest Switzerland close to Lake Geneva, the 55th running of the asphalt event takes on added significance with star performers Esapekka Lappi, Sepp Wiegand, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Craig Breen all in contention for the prestigious ERC prize.

Maintaining its status as the most important event in Swiss motorsport, the rally features 19 mainly asphalt stages over a competitive distance of 260.20 kilometres on mountain roads. The opening leg starts in Sion on Thursday 23 October and ventures into Upper Valais for the first time and a new stage through the German-speaking towns of Varen, Inden and Leukerbad. Friday’s route includes two visits to the Caserne military barracks stage in Sion before the event relocates to Martigny for day three when the monster 32.13-kilometre Les Cols test will be one of the highlights.

As well as counting for overall ERC points, the event is a round of the ERC Production Car Cup, ERC 2WD Championship, the new-for-2014 ERC Junior Championship and the Swiss Rally Championship. While Sébastien Carron has secured the national title, all other categories are up for grabs. The event also represents another opportunity for drivers to score ERC Asphalt Master points, a new initiative from ERC promoter Eurosport Events to recognise surface specialists in the European championship.

ERC Juniors aiming to shine
With ERC Junior Championship leader Stéphane Lefebvre not including the trip to Switzerland as one of his scoring rounds, fellow Peugeot 208 R2 drivers Andrea Crugnola and Chris Ingram will be looking to make up lost ground in the title chase. Aleks Zawada, Alex Parpottas, Fabio Andolfi and Florin Tincescu also have the talent to impress in their Michelin-shod R2 machines.

Local heroes to challenge ERC Production Car Cup regulars
Several leading Swiss drivers will chase ERC Production Car Cup honours including Florian Gonon, Urs Hunziker and Reudi Schmidlin. They will be going up against title chasers Vitaliy Pushkar and Martin Hudec, who are separated by 13 points heading to Switzerland. Other likely frontrunners include top Hungarian Andràs Hadik and three-time British champion and James Bond movie stunt driver Mark Higgins, who is making his second ERC start in a JRM Subaru.

Former Valais winners in action
Last year’s first-place finisher Esapekka Lappi won’t be the only former Rallye du Valais winner in action. Olivier Burri has triumphed on the event on eight occasions and Laurent Reuche is a double winner. Burri will be making his first competitive start in a Ford Fiesta R5, while Reuche joins Burri’s son Michaël in giving the Renault Clio R3T its ERC debut. While he’s never won in Valais before, Nicolas Althaus is no stranger to the podium and switches to a ŠKODA Fabia S2000 for this season having driven a Peugeot 207 S2000 in the past.

Czech quintet ready for Swiss ERC adventure…
Five drivers from Czech Republic – Martin Hudec, Tomáš Kurka, Jaroslav Orsák, Jaromír Tarabus and Antonín Tlus?ák – will be in action on Rallye International du Valais. While Orsák and Tlus?ák can count on recent experience of competing in Switzerland (Tlus?ák was the top ERC scorer in 2011), the event will be unchartered territory for their fellow countrymen.

…as Hungarian trio aim for ERC success
A trio of Hungarian drivers will be competing on Rallye International du Valais. Eurosol Racing Honda Civic driver Zoltán Bessenyey will be out to score as many points as possible in his bid to claim two ERC 2WD Championship crowns in succession. Teenager Kristòf Klausz continues to build on his limited experience, while veteran Lászlo Vizin is making his second Valais start and his fourth ERC appearance of 2014.

Four up for ERC Asphalt Master award
Four drivers are in the mix to become the inaugural ERC Asphalt Master. Esapekka Lappi leads with 238 points followed by Kevin Abbring (195), Craig Breen (134) and Sepp Wiegand (124). Points are awarded to the fastest five drivers on each stage on a basis of 10-6-4-2-1.

Portuguese pair a class act
Two Portuguese ERC regulars will be competing on Rallye International du Valais: multiple national champion Bruno Magalhães, who drives a pacesetting Peugeot 208T16, and ERC 2WD runner and road safety campaigner Renato Pita, who is armed with a Peugeot 208 R2.

Consani to carry message of support to Jules Bianchi
Robert Consani, who will be making his 10th consecutive ERC start in Switzerland, will carry a message of support to his injured compatriot, the Formula One driver Jules Bianchi. Consani is tackling the event in a Delta Rally Peugeot 207 S2000.

Les Cols test holds no fear for Filip
The 32.13-kilometre Les Cols test might be the longest in the ERC this season but that won’t bother fitness fanatic and top Romanian driver Alex Filip, who cycled 290 kilometres in one day from his home in Bucharest to an event in Sibiu recently. He will use a Renault Clio R3 in Valais.

FOUR TO THE FORE IN ERC
Four drivers will battle for the ERC title in Switzerland. This is what they have had to say ahead of the penultimate round of the season.

Q&A: Esapekka Lappi
Nationality: Finnish Team: ŠKODA Motorsport Car: ŠKODA Fabia S2000 Co-driver: Janne Ferm (Finland) Position: First Points: 123

What does it mean to you to be one of four drivers in ERC title contention with two rounds left?
“It means a lot. Before the season started no one expected us to be in the fight with our old S2000 car against the R5s. And also because I didn't have so much experience from these races.”

How important would winning the ERC title be to you and your career going forward?
“It's priority number one now for sure, I mean that’s why you are here competing. Normally you try to win every time, and if you can win a series, it's a sign of some sort of consistency and speed. And for sure winning a title always helps you somehow for the future, it's just difficult to say how.”

What's your strategy going to be on Rallye International du Valais?
“In Ypres and Barum I said that I don't want to do stupid mistakes, and you all know what happened. So now I don't say anything. We will see how it goes.”

How will you prepare for the rally?
“I will watch all the on-boards from last year and make some notes, some physical training as well, then relax and one time will do totally something else, that I can forget rallying for few minutes.”

If you don’t win the ERC title, who will and why?
“I think my team-mate Sepp is the strongest choice, he’s finishing the rallies and getting the important points.”

Q&A: Sepp Wiegand
Nationality: German Team: ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland Car: ŠKODA Fabia S2000 Co-driver: Frank Christian (Germany) Position: Second Points: 104

What does it mean to you to be one of four drivers in ERC title contention with two rounds left?
“I am very happy so far with our season. With second place overall we have a great possibility to finish on the podium in the end. That would be absolutely fantastic, because many other drivers are driving and testing much more than me. So far it is my best season since I started in 2011.”

How important would winning the ERC title be to you and your career going forward?
“It’s like a dream when I see that it’s possible to win the European championship. I think it can help a lot for my future because I am fighting to get more mileage and testing in a rally car. If you have talent than you can reach a level and have a structure for a successful future.”

What's your strategy going to be on Rallye International du Valais?
“I don’t know Rallye du Valais but I think it’s a difficult rally. Lappi and Breen are used to these roads from last year and they know the rally. I try my best like always, using my head and working on my pace all the time. I try to focus 100 per cent and enjoy driving in my ŠKODA Fabia.”

How will you prepare for the rally?
“I watched videos from last year because I think the stages are similar to this year. Barum was quite a long time ago, so I’ve just tried to analyse my performances over the last few events.”

If you don't win the ERC title, who will and why?
“Four drivers can win the title, so we will see who it will be in the end and I’ll give my best to become the champion.”

Q&A: Kajetan Kajetanowicz
Nationality: Polish Team: LOTOS Rally Team Car: Ford Fiesta R5 Co-driver: Jarek Baran (Poland) Position: Third Points: 94

What does it mean to you to be one of four drivers in ERC title contention with two rounds left?
“It means that the decision to take the next step in my career, taken together with our sponsors, was correct! I am very pleased with our achievements in FIA ERC so far, especially when you consider that this is our first season in the series. Basically every rally is new to us and we learn a lot of things about each event in which we take part. We have to remember that rallying is, after all, a team sport. I think that regardless of our final position in the championship we can already say that this season is successful for LOTOS Rally Team.”

How important would winning the ERC title be to you and your career going forward?
“It would be – and I hope it will be in the future – the biggest success in my career, no doubt about it. This is what we aim for with the whole team, working hard and gaining experience, which is essential in this series. I am aware that achieving this target in my first season, with the strong opposition of factory teams and in such extremely difficult rallies, is like ‘mission impossible’. The fact that we are in the fight for top places and we are considered as title contenders is very nice; it is our prize for this year’s work. If I would be able to fight in FIA ERC next season, then our goal will be to convert this year’s experience into the championship title.”

What's your strategy going to be on Rallye International du Valais?
“We feel obliged after being awarded with the Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy, so – as Colin used to say – the strategy is ‘pedal to the metal’! Of course our targets remain the same: it is not a matter of necessity to achieve something – it is just my desire. I love this sport and I want to share this love with everyone in Switzerland.”

How will you prepare for the rally?
“We had tests in my home area. We wanted to find the set-up for our Fiesta and get a good feeling on Tarmac because recently we have competed on gravel. Of course we also worked on theoretical preparations, gathering a lot of information about another event that is new to us. We are already waiting for the word ‘go’.”

If you don't win the ERC title, who will and why?
“The situation in the championship is very good for Esapekka, who by the way won Rallye du Valais last year. I think that at least several drivers have deserved the title but objectively looking at the point standings, the title should be won by a driver who has experience in international competition – and this is the most likely scenario!”

Q&A: Craig Breen
Nationality: Irish Team: Peugeot Rally Academy Car: Peugeot 208T16 Co-driver: Scott Martin (Great Britain) Position: Fourth Points: 74

What does it mean to you to be one of four drivers in ERC title contention with two rounds left?
“Of course it was the plan at the start of the season to try and win the title. Although things haven’t exactly gone to plan during the year we’re still happy to be in the fight.”

How important would winning the ERC title be to you and your career going forward?
“It would be hugely important for me as I am uncertain of my future after this season. When you are not finishing events, your name can very quickly disappear from everybody’s minds, regardless of what the stage times say, so to win this title would be just what I need. And more than anything it’s a dream of mine, nobody from Ireland has ever won a major international rally title like that so it would mean the world to me.”

What's your strategy going to be on Rallye International du Valais?
“Valais can be a tricky one so for sure nothing silly. The character of the stages changes a lot, so people can be stronger on some stages than others, so we’ll have to find a strong pace and see where that puts us. Everybody is going to be pushing to win, so we will have to be doing the same. I really want this!”

How will you prepare for the rally?
“We will have a test on Sunday, albeit in France, but hopefully the conditions will be similar. My engineer and me have been looking over data from this season and from the event last year with the 207 S2000, so hopefully we can find a good set-up that will give me the confidence to push.”

If you don’t win the ERC title, who will and why?
“I don’t want to think about anybody else winning it because it makes my stomach turn! But probably Esapekka, purely because he is in the best position at the moment. But like I said, I can’t think like that. All I can do now is concentrate on my own driving in the final events, and hope we can do enough to win. It won’t be for the want of trying.”

FIVE FACTS
*The Valais canton doesn’t just contain 11 of the best special stages in Europe, it’s also home to 40 luge tracks as it’s one of Switzerland’s leading winter sports regions. *Rallye International du Valais’ history dates back to 1960 and the running of the Rallye du Vin, which was organised to allow competitors to discover the region and its wines. *While Rallye du Valais is designated an asphalt event, there are small gravel sections on legs two (0.28 kilometres) and three (29.90 kilometres).

*Martigny is not only the joint host town of Rallye International du Valais, it’s also home to the Saint Bernard dog museum where the region’s favourite four-legged friend is celebrated.

*Raclette, a dish enjoyed locally, involves heating a raclette cheese round and scraping the melted cheese from the unmelted cheese onto a plate.

Craig craving a fortune shift in Switzerland.

Posted: October 23, 2014 11:37 AM

As the 2014 FIA European Rally Championship reaches its penultimate round this week at Rallye International du Valais in Switzerland, Peugeot Rally Academy driver Craig Breen will be very much hoping that his luck of recent months is about to change for the better. The land of four languages will witness a thrilling race between four of the FIA ERC’s top drivers to clinch the 2014 FIA ERC title over the rally’s three days from October 23rd-25th.

Based in Valais in southwest Switzerland close to Lake Geneva this will be Craig’s second time to take on the mountainous twisty terrain that the rally has to offer as he finished third overall here last year when he overcame some penalty and power steering issues using the old Peugeot 207 S2000 to end his first Peugeot Rally Academy season with another vital podium finish. Celebrating 55 years as the most important event in Swiss motorsport, Craig and his co-driver Scott Martin will take on 19 asphalt stages over a competitive distance of 260.20 kilometres using their ERC Acropolis winning 208T16. Following qualifying on Thursday morning the opening leg starts in Sion that afternoon in the Upper Valais region for the first time and a new stage through Varen, Inden and Leukerbad.

Friday’s route includes two visits to the Caserne military barracks stage in Sion before the event relocates to Martigny for day three when the monster 32.13-kilometre Les Cols test will be one of the highlights.

Craig will have plenty of competition for the win not least from within his own team in the form of fellow 208T16 driver Kevin Abbring but also a host of FIA ERC regulars, including last year’s winner and championship leader Esapekka Lappi. Olivier Burri will also be there to mix things up and has won the event eight times so can’t be ignored. Also up for grabs this week will be valuable ERC Asphalt Master points, an initiative from ERC promoter Eurosport Events to recognise surface specialists in the European championship and in the mix to become the inaugural ERC Asphalt Master are Lappi who leads with 238 points followed by Abbring (195), Craig (134) and Sepp Wiegand (124). Points are awarded to the fastest five drivers on each stage on a basis of 10-6-4-2-1. Craig recently took a trip back to his Karting days by competing on an event in Co. Louth and said it was a great opportunity to practice clean driving for Tarmac, also hoping it will help him in Valais.

ALLYE INTERNATIONAL DU VALAIS: ALTITUDE RUNNING FOR THE PEUGEOT RALLY ACADEMY!

Posted: October 23, 2014 11:12 AM

Before wrapping up its 2014 European Championship campaign on home soil in Corsica early next month, the Peugeot Rally Academy travels to Switzerland this week for the 55th Rallye International du Valais. Craig Breen and Kevin Abbring will be looking to steer the official Peugeot 208 T16s to the car’s second ERC success of the year on the twisty Alpine stages.

The Rallye du Valais: happy hunting ground for Peugeot Sport…
The penultimate round of the 2014 FIA ERC features a total competitive distance of 260km divided into 19 stages around the event’s base in Martigny. Victory for the 208 T16 this weekend would see the car join the 207 S2000 (1st in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012) and the 206 S1600 (1st in 2004) on the list of the Swiss event’s past winners. In addition to the Peugeot Rally Academy pair, there will also be 208 T16s in the hands of Bruno Magalhães and Jonathan Hirschi (HRT Rally Team), plus a Peugeot UK-backed 208 R2 for Chris Ingram (Peugeot UK) in the FIA ERC Junior class. The total number of entries is 83.

Craig Breen and Scott Martin: still in contention for the title
Since his victory at the beginning of the season in Greece, Craig Breen has had something of a troubled season. Even so, the Irishman is still in contention for the 2014 title and is particularly buoyed up ahead of the Swiss round. He feels at home on asphalt and will benefit from his knowledge of the rally acquired thanks to the third place he scored last year in the Peugeot Rally Academy’s Peugeot 207 S2000. He is currently 49 points short of the current ERC leader Esapekka Lappi, however, so his only tactic can be to aim for first place. Along with his co-driver Scott Martin, he is pleased with the way last week’s pre-event test went and is confident that he can count on a competitive, reliable package in Switzerland. Kevin Abbring: hungry for victory
The Dutch youngster and his co-driver Sebastian Marshall travel to the event after their only previous participation in 2010 intent on claiming a top result. Kevin Abbring’s ERC record so far this season includes second place in the Azores and 18 stage victories after featuring in the fight for victory on all of his outings. He feels particularly comfortable behind the wheel of the 208 T16, as demonstrated by his RC2 class success on the WRC’s Rallye de France earlier this month, so he is understandably hoping to put the cat among the pigeons once more this weekend.

Ten victories already for the 208 T16 across Europe and a national title in Italy The Peugeot 208 T16 enjoyed an emphatic maiden campaign in the Italian Rally Championship where Peugeot Sport Italia’s Paolo Andreucci took the car to four victories from eight. He clinched his first national crown just days ago on the Rally Due Valli, the final round of the year. The 208 T16, Peugeot Sport’s latest rally challenger, has also enjoyed success in Portugal (with Bruno Magalhães), Denmark (Christian Jensen) and Slovenia (Claudio De Cecco).

Driver quotes:

Craig Breen:
“I’m looking forward to contesting the Rallye du Valais again. It’s an event I really enjoyed last year. After our victory on the Acropolis Rally, we are still in a position where we can win the title so we will try to score the best result possible to increase our chances and also show the potential of the 208 T16. It’s a tough rally. The weather can be very changeable and the gravel portions make it a huge challenge. We’ve done some promising pre-event testing, though, and I have a very good feeling with the car. Scott and I are ready to give it everything we’ve got and I know that everyone at the Peugeot Rally Academy will do the same.”

Kevin Abbring:
“As has been the case nearly all season, this is another completely new event for me. There’s no snow yet but it’s a fantastic part of the world! I can’t wait to get started because we have come close to winning several ERC events in the Peugeot 208 T16 this year but we’ve been down on luck so far. That said, we succeeded in winning the RC2 class at the Rallye de France, so I hope I can keep up that momentum. We will endeavour to be as competitive as possible but it won’t be easy because there are a lot of drivers, including Craig [Breen] and Lappi, who have recent experience of the rally. That doesn’t mean we can’t win, though! The stages seem quite slippery so we will need to be cautious on the first passes.”

Seeded Entry List

Posted: October 17, 2014 9:57 AM

Rallye International du Valais (Switzerland) (J) - 23-25 Oct 14 - SEEDED ENTRY LIST

Event Website / Details

Posted: August 14, 2014 11:57 AM

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