| A magnificent 53-car entry will contest the first pure asphalt event of the 2015 FIA European Rally Championship season, the Discover Northern Ireland Circuit of Ireland Rally from 2-4 April. |
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The star-studded list includes 18 drivers in headlining R5 and Super 2000 cars and 19 of the sport’s most promising future talents in the ERC Junior Championship. Eighteen nations will be represented on the challenging Tarmac roads of Northern Ireland over the Bank Holiday weekend, with Belfast’s Titanic Quarter hosting the action and a share of a 20,000 prize fund, pledged by ERC promoter Eurosport Events, up for grabs.
With the first running of the event in 1931, the Circuit of Ireland is the third oldest rally in the world and the list of former winners includes legends such as Paddy Hopkirk and Colin McRae. However, drivers from Finland have dominated in recent years with Juho Hänninen and Esapekka Lappi winning in 2012 and 2014 respectively prior to claiming the prestigious European title.
This year’s event covers 215.22 kilometres and begins with a 3.22-kilometre Qualifying Stage on Thursday 2 April, which will help to determine the running order for leg one. Friday’s action contains eight stages totalling 87.04 kilometres and includes two visits to the famous Hamilton’s Folly test. The day finishes with two runs over the Newtownards TT street stage when more than 25,000 fans are expected to watch the action. Ten stages, covering a distance of 128.18 kilometres, are scheduled for Saturday with crews twice tackling the rally’s longest test – the 26.02 kilometres of McGaffins Corner – in addition to two passes through Lisburn’s town centre stage ahead of the evening finish in Belfast.
ERC ace Breen eager to join Circuit of Ireland heroes
Craig Breen aims to follow in a long and distinguished line of Irish drivers to win the Circuit of Ireland Rally, and in particular his “absolute hero and inspiration” Frank Meagher. An Irish rallying legend, Meagher won the Circuit in 1992 in a Ford Sierra Cosworth and, for the next 10 years, his spectacular driving style captured young Breen’s imagination. A good haul of ERC points is still the most important goal for the Peugeot Rally Academy 208 T16 driver, but there is no denying that Breen, a winner last time out in Latvia, would dearly love to add Circuit glory to his impressive CV. “I’ve got a big thing in my heart for the Circuit of Ireland,” said Breen. “It’s always been a dream of mine to follow my hero and put my name on the winner’s trophy too.”