Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Breen came here to fight and believes in a good result

29. 8. 2014 - Michael Kachlíř, Roman Ordelt, press centre BCRZ

Three top drivers from the starting field have gathered at the press conference before the launch of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín 2014. Craig Breen from Ireland, Bruno Magalhães from Portugal and Mark Higgins from Great Britain have answered the journalists' questions.

The factory driver Craig Breen is the one whose Peugeot 208 T16 from the Peugeot Rally Academy team will carry no. 1. 'I feel confident. I have been here in 2011 and I know the roads. They are very bumpy and full of jumps, so they are similar to ours at home. I think everything will be alright and I'm looking forward to the contest a lot,' Breen said before the rally began. 'This season we had a lot of unfinished races and Acropolis rally was the first one we finished,' he mentioned his spring victory in the surroundings of the Greek city Loutraki. He is aware of the fact that it will not be easy in Zlín. 'I'm hoping for a good result in order to score well in the European Championship and I will do my best. It is going to be very difficult on the home ground of the factory team Škoda,' admitted the 24 year-old Peugeot 208 driver. The Irish racer was troubled with health problems, which are now already gone. 'I feel well, I am allowed to participate in the races and I hope everything will be okay,' wished Breen, who has the FIA priority.

The first encounter with the Czech rally awaits the Portuguese driver Bruno Magalhães also with Peugeot 208 T16. Several weeks ago he achieved a victory in his home country competition Rali Vinho da Madeira and Zlín is a big challenge for him. 'I'm glad I can be here. I know a lot about Barum Rally because I did an interview for Eurosport so I did a research on the local rally. It is pretty hard to do well when it's your first time here. I will try to fight for the best place possible and gain valuable experiences,' stated Magalhães. 'It's a rally full of bumps and jumps. It is fast and it's going to be very difficult to tune the car right,' he guessed. The Portuguese driver is having car troubles. The race itself will show what impact it is going to have in the end. 'I'm having troubles with the car and with supplying the right parts. So far it hasn't been what I expected. Hopefully we will do fine at the night stage and we'll see what happens tomorrow,' said Magalhães, who seemed to be quite likeable.

Mark Higgins from Great Britain made a comeback after 11 years. In 2003 he finished in eleventh place. Currently he is participating in a very exotic Chinese championship. What are Mark's memories of his first year at the Barum Rally? 'It was sensational and I think back about it with delight. It was a tough rally and similar to the one we have at home. I am happy to be here and compete,' added Higgins. This time he has a new ride Subaru Impreza WRX STi from the British team JRM Group. 'Subaru is ready for these tracks. I took a ride in the morning and it was great. The test drive went smoothly and I feel good. I'm hoping for good weather so we can enjoy it,' concluded the 43 year-old former British champion.