[ERC] [MERC] Cyprus Rally 2014 (19-21.09.2014)

Back home from day 1, watched 4 stages, SS2,5,6 and 9. Really disappointed with the level of driving by almost everyone.
Generally the level of driving was a bit low. Only Yazeed, Al-Kuwari and Breen seem to push. Kajito looked really tidy and not pushing but he was fastest everywhere. Khalid spectacular but almost always off line and sideways. Mangalhaes is really disappointing, I was expecting something more.
The drivers of day was Demosthenous and Antoniou (note that is the co-driver Chips jnr who is driving), everywhere that I watched they were really on the limit. Their times in Klavdia stage is unbelievable, this is a stage they frequently run in national rallies (at least once a year), and really smooth and fast

The last stage of the day Klavdia is next to Demosthenous house and garage....as we say he can complete this stage with his eyes closed :).

I watched six stages today and last night SSS and I have to agree with Giannis that the level was bit low. On the SSS me and my small son were very lucky, because we were at the place Orsak demolished his wheel and small parts from the wheel and the cement were flying everywhere.....In the first SS of the morning at a very fast right Consani lost it, went off the road, made half spin and fortunately came back on the road. Khalid drove his car as a MKII escort losing time everywhere. We also enjoyed the sound of the 208 as much as we disliked the sound of the R5 Fiesta....
Al Rajhi and Kajetanowicz were fast but I was expecting better stage times from Al-Kuwari considering his experience from last year's WRC2 results. I don't have a lot to say about Breen, I’ m sure he would be more competitive if he drove his father’s fiesta... Also Consani looked way faster than Magalhães until his retirement. Big shame that Nasser retired. He would be the reference and also starting first on the road he would push like crazy…. Let’s hope he starts tomorrow.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leon

On the SSS me and my small son were very lucky, because we were at the place Orsak demolished his wheel and small parts from the wheel and the cement were flying everywhere.....

---

I was there too, 20 meters down the straight

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leon

Let’s hope he starts tomorrow.

---

He wont, the car is parked in service park, not park-ferme.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by makinen_fan

I was there too, 20 meters down the straight



He wont, the car is parked in service park, not park-ferme.

---

θα ερθεις στο Τσέρι αύριο?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leon

θα ερθεις στο Τσέρι αύριο?

---

send pm

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jarek Z

Hmmm... after seeing the first results of Cyprus Rally, I have doubts if the level of competition in ERC is really higher than in WRC2. Look at this - Kajto and Orsak make errors already on the first stage, Breen doesn't know what is going on with his driving, Consani and Magalhaes cannot even keep up with some some rich bonzos from Saudi Arabia and Tlustak is down in the 14th position even though he drives the best car in the championship. I have to say I'm disappointed with this.

---

I must say that I was disappointed by the speed of Arab drivers. With their experience (not only from WRC2, but especially with local conditions and stages, which they know very well) and their RRC cars they should be on the top, but Kajto and Breen (in stages where his car is working at least from 80%) are on same speed or faster. Pity that Al-Attiyah retired, he should be different level and show, how fast "local" diver can be.

It is also good to notice, that most of ERC regulars had big respect from this very rough rally and they decided to use calm mode to finish the rally and score points (except Al Rajhi other Arab drivers are going only MERC, so they dont take points to ERC drivers).

And also one important notice - ERC drivers has limited number of tyres, MERC drivers can use how many they want...

I don't understand why Andreucci's 208 works quite well and Breen's and Abbring's 208s break down every rally.

Did Peugeot not do any testing in hot conditions at all then?

Having to run most of the rally in road mode is a joke.

Breen running in road mode again on the stages, what a farce this Peugeot is?

(10 - Pushkar Vitaliy / Mishyn Ivan): Very bad stage. No classic rally, this is rally raid. Good for KAMAZ.