Breen impresses at Rally Finland

At the end of the first leg of Rally Finland, round eight of the World Rally Championship, the Irish crew of Craig Breen/Paul Nagle (Ford Fiesta S2000) hold fourth place in the S-WRC category.

It was an emotional return to the series for the Waterford driver after the fatal accident on the Targa Florio Rally in June that claimed the life of his Welsh co-driver, Gareth Roberts.

After he set the fourth fastest time in the category on the opening stage, he said: “It’s a sad feeling but I want to thank all the people who have given me the courage to get here. I never thought I’d be in a rally car again, let alone with a time that was not so far off the pace.” Breen reckoned he could have improved his stage time had he bled the brakes more effectively before the start of the stage. Breen maintained his position through yesterday’s remaining pair of stages.