70th Rally Poland (Rajd Polski)

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Official Peugeots are 8th and 10th after leg 1 and that only because of problems of Kubica and Kangur in the last stage otherwise they would be 10th and 12th. Quite a shame when You compare them with Bouffier.

That's true. Now official Peugeots are behind Bouffier also in the ERC standings:
1. Kopecky 248,
2. Bouffier 129,
3. Breen 121,
4. Delecour 75,
5. Kajetanowicz 50,
...
18. Ancian 20.

This says more about some great performances by Bouffier (especially here) than any failure by Breen...

Experience is what Bouffier has and its this that has enabled him to overtake Breen. That is also what Breen is here to gain in all these rallies that are new to him.

If there is any 'Official Peugeot' criticism, then it can only be aimed at Ancian.

[Mirek]

If there is any 'Official Peugeot' criticism, then it can only be aimed at Ancian.

Come on, on one hand You defend Breen as unexperienced newbie (which is not fully true as he did at least two seasons in WRC) and on the other You blame Ancian who is the real newbie with zero international experience. It's not fair from You at all.

[dimviii]

:skull: :vader: :skull: :vader:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... E6BopiPheg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2E6BopiPheg)

[dimviii]

:vader:
excellent video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... JQaoK7iQ4Y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4JQaoK7iQ4Y)

[stefanvv]

:vader:
excellent video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... JQaoK7iQ4Y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4JQaoK7iQ4Y)
Great, even 2WD are fun to watch

[WUff1]

:vader:
excellent video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... JQaoK7iQ4Y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4JQaoK7iQ4Y)

Really great, thanks!

[zajic]

Updated gallery from 2nd leg and podium ceremony here: http://www.rally-mania.cz/photogallery.php?id=1195

[Fast Eddie WRC]

If there is any 'Official Peugeot' criticism, then it can only be aimed at Ancian.

Come on, on one hand You defend Breen as unexperienced newbie (which is not fully true as he did at least two seasons in WRC) and on the other You blame Ancian who is the real newbie with zero international experience. It's not fair from You at all.

I said IF criticism can be aimed at anyone - I do not criticise Ancian. He is also here to learn but has the advantage of Peugeot backing at a young age like Breen.

I just point out that Breen has beaten him easily at each event and Breen has done as well as can be expected in so many new rallies and against many more experienced drivers.

[Andre Oliveira]

eWRC photos here (http://ewrc-results.com/foto.php?e=7316&t=Rajd-Polski-2013)

[Fast Eddie WRC]

No wonder Bouffier was so good in this rally driving a Peugeot 207...
Wiki: 'Bouffier won three consecutive Polish Rally Championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009, driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 for Peugeot Sport Polska ...'

Meanwhile neither of the 'official' Peugeot Academy drivers had ever driven here before.. :|

And Bouffier has certainly had his fair share of Peugeot factory support in his career:
Wiki: 'In 2003 he became an official Peugeot Sport driver and spent three years competing in the French tarmac championship in a Peugeot 206 S1600. In 2006 he competed in the European Rally Championship for Peugeot Sport España... ' :crazy:

[mousti]

Those facts are very known here. Breen was completely off pace, nothing more to be said about that..

[bluuford]

Funny explanation by Kangur why he won two stages. He told that he has driven his 2WD Honda for ages and mostly 2WD cars are driving at the back of the field. That meand big ruts almost always. these stages were second runs and very rutted and he told that he felt really at home on those ruts :-) Seems that driving on a smooth road is like a bit of new experience for him ;-)

[Rallying UK]

ROBERT KUBICA: Here's the story in photos and video of Robert Kubica's Rally Poland 2013:

http://storify.com/RallyingUK/photoset-of-robert-kubica-s-crash-during-testing-f

[noel157]

Eddie, do you expect great things from Breen in the future?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Those facts are very known here. Breen was completely off pace, nothing more to be said about that..

Except that it was his first Rally Poland, there were atrocious road conditions and he had a new co-driver...

And this is the first rally that he has not been on the pace all year.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Eddie, do you expect great things from Breen in the future?

Hope not expect.

And I believe he has more than earned his support from Peugeot given his previous success in Academy and S2000 levels.

[Jarek Z]

I still think Craig Breen is a great driver, but the level of competition in ERC is much higher than in WRC2/SWRC.

[RS]

I still think Craig Breen is a great driver, but the level of competition in ERC is much higher than in WRC2/SWRC.

This is why Kubica should have done a full ERC season. You don't learn so much when you are not driving at maximum speed.

[Mirek]

I still think Craig Breen is a great driver, but the level of competition in ERC is much higher than in WRC2/SWRC.

I also think he is very good and extremely spectacular but fact is that his performance in Poland was really bad. He finished two minutes behind Kopecký who is no gravel superstar and for whom it was a new rally too (he did it once but long 8 years a go and I don't think it has any influence on his performance now). Imagine that there would be Hänninen or Mikkelsen on stages. Bouffier has a lot of experience, that is true, but on the other hand he has worse car and very low budget - and still finished 3 minutes ahead even despite a broken damper on stage. This year he defeated Breen every time when they were both on stages (!) From many sides we used to hear how Breen is the future star etc. but to get into the "high rally society" he MUST defeat Kopecký on any gravel rally any time.

[WUff1]

Bouffier finished 2nd at Ypres with Lara Vanesste - also his first time with her as co-driver, so this is no argument.

Breen´s performance was rather dissapointing at Poland - hope he does better at San Remo.

[noel157]

Eddie, do you expect great things from Breen in the future?

Hope not expect.

And I believe he has more than earned his support from Peugeot given his previous success in Academy and S2000 levels.

Didn't he bring money to Peugeot?
I'm not sure yet just how good he is or will be. Capable of winning an ERC round? Maybe, in the right car but beyond that, I'm not sure how he will progress. Just doesn't seem to have that extra "ingredient" that I've seen in other drivers. Time will tell.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Eddie, do you expect great things from Breen in the future?

Hope not expect.

And I believe he has more than earned his support from Peugeot given his previous success in Academy and S2000 levels.

Didn't he bring money to Peugeot?
.

If he did I think it was only the money he received from winning the S2000 title in 2012...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Guys... Im not saying Breen is perfect, but cut him some slack.

Ok Poland was poor but theres no need to write him off.

Bouffier is better but Breen still deserves his 'factory' chance like Bryan has had in the past.

[mousti]

Onboard with Jourdan Serderidis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9mzhKFwdTM

[Plhus]

My photos:

http://www.src.czechrallyeweb.net/pages/polski2013.htm

[mousti]

Quite on the limit with Lefebvre! :p


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivoPqcxddcQ

[Jeppe]

My photos:

http://www.src.czechrallyeweb.net/pages/polski2013.htm

Great photos!!! You really got the feeling in them :)

[Plhus]

Many thanks! :cool: