The CNP Asfalistiki Cyprus Rally (19-21 September) was Craig’s big opportunity to cull Esapekka Lappi’s championship lead before he got too far out of reach.
Not used in the FIA ERC since 1999 the Nicosia based rally offered drivers the rare opportunity and challenge of mixed road surfaces using a gravel set-up on all but two of its fifteen stages and for Craig it was another chance for him to prove his ability in the Peugeot 208T16 on mixed surface events after his maiden ERC win on the Acropolis Rally in Greece earlier in the year.
Right from the qualifying stage on Thursday afternoon it was obvious that all the cars were going to struggle with the high ambient temperatures that were set to grace the rally for the weekend. Craig and his co-driver Scott Martin posted fifth fastest time through the 4.5km gravel test just 3.3 seconds behind fastest man Kajetan Kajetanowicz allowing them fifth choice at the start selection ceremony later that day and they chose to run eight on the road for leg one.
The rally got underway on Friday evening with an all asphalt stage through the capital’s streets and it was full of drama for the leading drivers that saw Craig overcome a turbo boost issue caused by the heat to finish fifth overnight facing into the first full day of rallying on Saturday. Craig made sure he and Scott were wide awake when they had a high speed spin on a tarmac section of the morning’s first stage SS2 which saw them down 13.8 seconds on stage winner Khalid Al Qassimi.
As the extreme heat took its toll on many of the leading cars Craig was forced to manage the engine temperature of his Peugeot 208T16 by driving it in road mode through the remaining three stages before service to preserve it rather than risk potential damage and retirement on such an important event for him. Craig left service in eight place overall as he received a one minute twenty second penalty for arriving at the stage prior to service late while trying to manage the overheating issues, and it looked very much like he would have no choice but continue to drive in preservation mode for the afternoon loop. Craig kept as close as he possibly could to the times of those ahead and he ended Leg 1 in sixth place overall.
As Sunday dawned the heat showed no signs of easing and temperatures hit thirty degrees Celsius making it very difficult for some of the cars but Craig now running fourth on the road was determined to get the vital championship points he went there for by getting to the finish. It was all going according to plan for the Peugeot Rally Academy pair until 5km from the end of the final stage when the Peugeot 208T16 ground to a halt with an electrical problem that lost them sixteen minutes and even though they made it out of the stage the car cried enough on the road section back to service in Nicosia resulting in a non-finish.
With just two more asphalt rounds left in this year’s FIA ERC Craig will be determined to prove his speed on his preferred surface so his fans can look forward to an exciting climax to his 2014 season.
You can keep up to date with Craig’s FIA ERC 2014 campaign by visiting www.craigbreen.com orwww.peugeot-sport.com
