Win keeps Breen on track for second WRC title in two years

Craig Breen got his Super World Rally Championship challenge back on track this weekend as he won the S2000 category of Rally GB this afternoon.

The Waterford driver put in a steady performance over the course of the weekend to win by over two minutes from Tom Cave in second with Yaz Al Rajhi in third.

After starting slowly on Friday, Breen assumed the lead on Stage Two after rivals PG Andersson and Hayden Paddon slipped down the field after penalties and technical problems.

The Motorsport Ireland Driver of the Year led by over a minute going into day two in Wales.

The 23-year-old kept it steady yesterday, but a time penalty for leaving service late when fitting a new gearbox on temporarily put Breen back into second behind Al Rajhi.

The two battled it out for the rest of day, and while Al Rajhi finished the day 0.1 seconds ahead of Breen, a time penalty saw the Saudi driver drop to third overnight with Cave up to second.

Breen and co-driver Paul Nagle started today with a lead of over two minutes from Cave with Al Rajhi in third.

The crew kept it steady across the six stages today in the Ford Fiesta S2000 and despite a near miss with a deer on Stage 17, Breen went on to win by 2 minutes and 37 seconds from Cave.

The reigning WRC Academy champion, who won the title at the same event last year, has now pushed himself firmly back into contention for a second world rally title in two years.

Breen's main rivals for the SWRC crown, PG Andersson and Hayden Paddon finished in 6th and 7th respectively.

The final events of the season are France in October and the Rally de Espana in November.