Craig Brilliant Breen realises burning ambition

Craig Breen realised his childhood ambition with victory on the Discover Northern Ireland Circuit of Ireland Rally

Co-driven by Scott Martin in the Peugeot 208 T16 they finished 6.4 seconds ahead of the European Rally Championship rivals Kato Kajetanowicz/Jaroslaw Baran (Ford Fiesta R5).

However, Breen’s dream win almost turned into a nightmare — just after reclaiming the lead on Stage 16 after rival Robert Barrable beached his Fiesta R5 — Breen then endured two tense moments on the final two stages. Nevertheless, he still managed to emulate his hero and fellow Munster man Frank Meagher, who won the Circuit in 1992.

As overnight leader Barrable extended his lead to eight seconds on S.S. 9 — even with a concern about a noise from the rear of his Fiesta R5, Breen’s Peugeot continued to have issues with the pop off valve. Meanwhile, Josh Moffett, with the best time on the opening stage, held fourth. Breen edged ahead on S.S. 11 only for a tenacious Barrable to reclaim the lead on the next stage by 1.8 seconds. At the service park in the Titanic Quarter Breen’s Peugeot team tried to solve the problem and restore the 208 T16 to full power. There was little between the pair on the double run over the spectator stage at Lisburn with Barrable leading by 1.3 seconds after S.S. 14.

Breen set the pace on the next stage and cut the deficit to 1.1 seconds. Unfortunately, on S.S. 15, the longest stage of the rally (23km) Barrable’s fine drive ended 4km from the finish when he was caught out on gravel.

Breen then held a lead of 19.8 seconds over second placed Kato Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5). Josh Moffett (Fiesta RRC), quickest on the morning’s opening stage, held third from his brother Sam in a similar car. Earlier their fellow Monaghan driver Stephen Wright (Fiesta R5) crashed on S.S. 10.

Breen’s Peugeot arrived at the finish of the penultimate stage minus its front bumper — of more immediate concern was the time lost in the off road excursion that slashed his lead over Kajetanowicz to five seconds.

There was even more drama on the final stage for the Waterford man when he overshot and stalled but the calming influence of co-driver Scott Martin proved vital in the trying circumstances and an emotional Breen achieved that much publicised dream. “It feels like I waited all my life for this, I still find it hard to believe, It’s a really incredible feeling.”

Kajetanowicz was second from Josh Moffett in third with brother Sam, also in a Fiesta RRC one place behind. The other Irish finisher in the top ten was Longford’s Tommy Doyle, in seventh. Jonny Greer retired his Citroen DS3R5 with an electrical fire after the final stage. In the National event, Derek McGarrity (Subaru S14) took the spoils, he finished almost two and a half minutes ahead of the similar car of Kenny McKinstry. Yet again Declan Boyle retired whilst leading. Killarney’s Rob Duggan/Ger Conway in a Fiesta R2 were fourth.