SS4: Breen scores fourth stage best in Latvia

Craig Breen has begun his 23rd birthday in style by winning stage four of Rally Liepāja-Ventspils, which was run for the first time under the cover of darkness last night.

Breen, in a Peugeot Rally Academy-Saintéloc 207 Super 2000 was 3.7s faster than Ford Fiesta RRC driver Jari Ketomaa to build his lead on the FIA European Rally Championship qualifier to 10.1s.

“I had a little bit of a push in there,” said the now 23-year-old Irishman, whose time was 27s faster than he managed on the first run through the stage. “I’m really comfortable with that pace, the car is incredible, so good to drive.”

Ketomaa said he wasn’t entirely happy with the set-up of his Autotek Motorsport entry: “The grip on the road is a lot better compared to the test so I’m struggling a bit with the set-up of this car. I try to change it on the road section.”

Alexey Lukyanuk continues to lead the ERC Production Car Cup in his Mitsubishi Lancer by going third fastest overall: “Today everything is 100 per cent,” said the Russian. “I am confident with no mistakes at all. I am pleased with my pace.”

François Delecour, who was 15.1s down on Breen, felt he could have gone faster but for the short-ratio gearbox fitted to his Munaretto Sport Peugeot. “I went maximum, I was on the limiter in too many places because I have the ratio too short.”

Jan Černy reported an upturn in confidence following a troubled opening leg in his ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000, setting the sixth best time in the process. Raimonds Kisiels, meanwhile, picked up a 10-second penalty for a jumped start. He drops to eighth behind Vitaliy Pushkar as a result.

Stage five, Volkswagen 2, starts at 10:55hrs local time.