Hyundai’s Craig Breen died in practice last week ahead of Croatia’s World Cup Rally – but despite that, the race will go ahead. Teammate Esapekka Lappi was shaky after finishing today’s test stretch.
It was last week that Breen was in Croatia to recharge before this week’s WC rally. During a training session, the Irishman lost control of his car, and passed away at the age of 33 after the serious accident.
The rally world was in shock, but the WC rally in Croatia will take place after all.
When it came time for Thursday’s preparatory shakedown stage, it was clear what was on the drivers’ minds. The late Irishman’s stablemate Esapekka Lappi was teary-eyed after the 3.65 kilometer long test session.
– I told Janne (Ferm, map reader) that I was only shaking when I reached the finish line. And it wasn’t because I was wearing the East so hard on the track…
– Everyone has processed what happened in different ways, but for me it has been difficult, Lappi described.
Rovanperä is the fastest
Lappi was fourth fastest on Thursday, 1.4 seconds slower than Kalle Rovanperä. The reigning world champion is expecting a difficult weekend.
– But the most important thing is that everyone is here to drive for Craig. It is quite clear why we are here, commented Rovanperä.
Between the Finns, M-Sport’s Ott Tänak and Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier wedged their way in. The former visited Breen’s family last weekend – and promised mother Jackie Breen that he would keep the smile on his face.
– She had so much positive energy when I visited on Sunday. They were wonderful, I am so grateful for the energy, Tänak said.
With last week’s tragedy, Hyundai only has two drivers competing for points in Croatia, Lappi and Thierry Neuville. To show solidarity, the other stables have chosen to register only two drivers in the constructors’ race. For Toyota, it is Ogier and Rovanperä who also drive for team points, while Elfyn Evans only goes for individual points.
The rally starts with the first special stage tomorrow at 9 o’clock.
Shakedown, Croatia
1. Kalle Rovanperä, Toyota, 1.52.8
2. Ott Tänak, M-Sport, 1.53.6 + 0.8
3. Sebastien Ogier, Toyota, 1.53.6 + 0.8
4. Esapekka Lappi, Hyundai, 1.54.2 + 1.4
5. Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota, 1.54,7 + 1,9
6. Pierre-Louis Loubet, M-Sport, 1.55.3 + 2.5
7. Thierry Neuville, Hyundai, 1.55.8 + 3.0
8. Erik Cais, Skoda, 1.59.7 + 6.9 Rally2
9. Oliver Solberg, Skoda, 1.59,9 + 7,1 Rally2
10. Yohan Rossel, Citroen, 2.00.0 + 7.2 Rally2
