|
Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts - Ford Fiesta S2000
Safety Direct Galway International Rally Preview
If
we turn back the clock twelve months, Craig Breen entered the
Galway International Rally and embarked on a voyage that would
take him to three Fiesta based championship titles, the National
Junior Rally Championship Crown, Billy Coleman Award and International
Fiesta Shootout Victory. 2009 Highlights for Craig "I think
winning in Finland last year was a turning point. There were lots
of quick drivers and to go there for the first time and win was
a rare thing. Also the Pirelli Star Driver, considering the people
I was up against. But I think the most obvious highlight was winning
the Fiesta Shoot Out because it gave me the opportunity to work
at M Sport."
Now
a year on Craig takes the first step on the road of his second
year of full time rallying and to help the young rally driver
of the year he brings the all new Fiesta S2000 to the West of
Ireland for the opening round of the 2010 Citroën Irish Tarmac
Rally Championship. Craig "I drove the new car at the Kirkbride
Airfield, Cumbria just before we brought it home and the car was
just awesome. My first time to drive the car in anger was last
Saturday morning in Co. Cork at the National Forestry Championship
Test Day. The gravel test gave Gareth and I seat time in the car.
Tom (Tom Gahan) advised us not to make to many changes just drive
the car; get to grips with the way it feels corning, under braking
and at speed. We put about 70 km up over the day and came away
with a much better understanding of the handling. This set us
up perfectly for our first tarmac test last Monday. From the start
I could feel the potential. We tried out a combination of different
settings; including springs, shocks and tyres. By the last run
of the day we were delighted with our final setup. The power,
stability and maneuverability of the car is unbelievable and I
just can't wait for the first stage in Galway."
"Our
goal this year is to compete in the Citroën Irish Tarmac
Rally Championship here in Ireland, the MSA British Rally Championship
and selected outings in the World Rally Championship. I know there
will be a lot of pressure but all I can do is push on as I did
last year. I've got a huge team behind me and I'm sure that will
reflect in what I do this year. I love every minute of rallying
and I'm hoping this is my year to pay back all the people that
have supported me so far, including my family, friends, everyone
in the Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club and of course all my sponsors."
"At
the launch I was delighted to announce the team's new sponsorship
package for 2010. Over the Christmas period my P.R. team and I
worked hard on putting a proposal together that would attract
a major corporate sponsor. This work really paid off during the
last few weeks and now I and the team are very privileged to have
Kick Energy, Kel-Tech, Motorsport Ireland, Pirelli, Castrol and
Suirway as partners for the 2010 season. It also gives me great
pleasure to have Tom Gahan Motorsport on board again this year.
By now Tom and the team are part of the family that makes up Craig
Breen Rallying."
"Now
to next weekend, Galway comes first in the championship and can
be one of the most difficult events of the season. I had a great
result last year, finishing tenth overall and hopefully the debut
of our new S2000 can bring us some luck. Weather conditions can
be a lottery and is bound to play a big part but the team and
I are very confident."
Ford Fiesta S2000 Technical Specification
Engine:
Ford 1998cc Pipo built I4 Duratec S2000 engine. Four cylinders,
16 valves.
Bore 87mm. Stroke 83mm. Cosworth electronics engine management
system. Catalytic converter.
Power:
280 bhp at 8000 rpm.
Torque:
260 Nm at 6500 rpm.
Transmission:
Permanent four-wheel drive. M-Sport / Xtrac six speed sequential
gearbox with AP clutch.
Suspension:
Front and rear: MacPherson struts with Reiger external reservoir
dampers, three-way adjustable. Fully adjustable fabricated steel
links. Front and rear anti-roll bars. Machined aluminium uprights.
Brakes:
Gravel Events: (front and rear): 300mm Brembo ventilated discs
with Brembo four piston monoblock calipers.
Asphalt Events:(front ): 355mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo
four-piston monoblock calipers.
Asphalt Events: (rear ): 300mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo
four-piston monoblock calipers.
Hydraulic handbrake.
Steering:
Power-assisted high-ratio (12:1) rack and pinion. One and a half
turns lock to lock.
Wheels:
Gravel: 7in x 15in (aluminium) wheels with 650mm tyres.
Asphalt: 8in x 18in (magnesium) wheels with 650mm tyres.
Bodyshell:
Unitary construction. Unique composite side panels. Welded T45
steel safety roll cage. Aerodynamic rear wing. Unique front 'bumper'
treatment.
Electronics:
Full Cosworth electronics data acquisition for on-event diagnostics
and performance development.
Fuel tank:
FIA FT3 tank, 80 litre capacity, located centrally.
Dimensions:
Length: 3958mm. Width: 1820mm. Wheelbase: 2489mm. Weight: 1200kg
minimum.
|