Clean run essential for Lappi in WRC 2
Finn needs maximum points to boost title bid
Breen tops WRC 2 in France
Craig Breen put a disappointing WRC 2 season behind him to lead the category after Friday’s opening leg of Tour de Corse – Rallye de France.
The Irishman has suffered reliability problems with his Peugeot 208 T16 but first and second fastest times in the shortened day earned him a 3.4sec lead over Julian Maurin’s Ford Fiesta R5. Title-chasing Esapekka Lappi was third, 10.2sec off the lead in a Skoda Fabia R5.
Both Breen and Maurin survived spins, Breen in the final stage and Maurin in the opener, during a day when the middle of the three scheduled tests was cancelled following torrential rain which left parts of the route undriveable.
Pontus Tidemand was the early pace-setter but the Swede retired early in the final test with damaged suspension on his Fabia R5.
Armin Kremer spun in the opening test but recovered well to hold fourth in a Fabia R5, with Eric Camilli and Teemu Suninen completing the top six. Finn Suninen could have been higher but for a final stage spin after a handbrake problem in his Fiesta R5.
Jonathan Hirschi spun his 208 T16 three times in the last stage while Quentin Giordano retired his DS 3 R5 in the last test.
Max Rendina headed the Production Cup category within WRC 2 by 35.8sec from Joan Carchat. Series leader Gianluca Linari did not start the rally for personal reasons.
