Breen has breathing space

Irish pair Craig Breen and Paul Nagle put in a strong drive in the S-WRC category of Rally GB as their title rivals hit trouble during yesterday’s opening leg of six stages.

Hayden Paddon in his Skoda Fabia was quickest on the opening test, 4.4 seconds faster than PG Anderson, with Breen, in a Ford Fiesta S2000, 7.1secs off top spot.

Breen then moved into the lead on the second stage, 8.8secs ahead of Tyrone’s Alastair Fisher.