Rally-eMag 014 December 2013 | Page 51

ERC: Rallye Sanremo / Rally review 51/64 Uncharacteristically Lappi took a steady approach to the Sanremo, it paid off in the end. No champion Kopecky took the ERC during the previous event in Croatia while Lappi was boosting his air miles by competing in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). Although he took two wins, he had to let the title to Indian Gaurav Gill, also in a Skoda. Next year though, the Skoda factory drivers will switch roles. Kopecky will head east to try and clinch the APRC crown while Lappi gets his chance to shine on the European continent. From that perspective, it’s not that strange to see Lappi compete in Sanremo rather than the newly crowned champion Kopecky. However it did feel somewhat weird to have crowned a champion but not have him at the start of the remainder of the season (he skipped the final round in Switzerland too). Top-seeded Craig Breen was once again disappointed as mechanical problems ended his chances of succes. The absence of Kopecky, who has been utterly dominant this year, did give the opportunity to Breen and Bouffier to add some luster to their seasons. Breen was touted as one of the championship favourites before the season and started well enough. Four podium finishes in the first six rounds brought him up as high as second in the championship (behind the shear unbeatable Kopecky). However his luck turned for the worse in the second half when technical issues and some mistakes put him out of contention. His pace is unquestioned though and it really should be only a matter of time before he secures his first major rally win. No stranger to winning is Bryan Bouffier. The experience Frenchman alr