Hard road still lies ahead for Craig Breen

The focus. The obsession. The memory of a fallen friend. All these reasons and more have seen Craig Breen blaze through the grades to make it to the World Rally Championship proper — rallying’s Formula One, its NBA — the first driver from the Republic to make it to that level...

When it comes to describing Craig Breen’s story and nature, when some day he reaches the very top of his sport and it is documented in either book or film, there is only one obvious word for it: Driven.

We’re talking about someone from the Kilkenny/Waterford border — which side of it he’s from or that has proper claim on him “doesn’t really bother me”, he grins slowly, “if anyone asks, whichever one is more beneficial at the time” — yet hurling leaves him cold.