Circuit of Ireland Rally (ERC): Easter fun!

The FIA European Rally Championship continues with this weekend’s Ulster-based Circuit of Ireland Rally. Irishman Craig Breen (Peugeot 208/Michelin) stands out as favourite for this notoriously tough event.

The event was not run in 2013 due to poor weather, but the 2012 and 2014 Circuit of Ireland winners – Juho Hänninen and Esapekka Lappi – both went on to claim the European title at the end of the season. Famous drivers from the past who have won this rally, which dates back to 1931, based on the concept of the Rallye Monte-Carlo, include Paddy Hopkirk, Roger Clark, Jimmy McRae, Pentii Airikkala and Colin McRae.

This year, Irishman Craig Breen starts as favourite in the Peugeot Rally Academy 208 T16/Michelin and the French team has entered a similar R5 car for Frenchman Charles Martin. Meanwhile, a big draw this year will be British actor Idris Elba (Nelson Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom) in a Ford Fiesta R1.

The entry list for round three of the 2015 FIA ERC (the first on asphalt) features 20 or so R5 and S2000 cars. Poland’s Kajetan Kajetanowizc (Fiesta R5), the provisional championship leader, will be out to beat the British and Irish specialists, while Frenchman Robert Consani, who is equal second in the standings with Breen, will appear for the first time in his new Citroën DS3 R5.

The Junior class has attracted a record 19 drivers. The pressure will be on the shoulders of Manchester-bred Chris Ingram (Peugeot 208 R2) after the early domination of the category by Nordics Emil Bergqvist (Opel) and Steve Rokland (Peugeot).

The Circuit of Ireland stages are notoriously fast, bumpy, narrow and treacherous, while wet weather invariable makes the challenge more difficult still. To cover the range of possible conditions, Michelin’s partners will be able to choose from a selection of catalogue asphalt tyres.

The Qualifying Stage will take place early Thursday afternoon ahead of the ceremonial start in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter. Friday’s menu includes eight stages, with 10 more on Saturday, including two attempts at ‘McGaffins Corner’ (26.02km), before the finish the same evening.