After his Pirelli International success a fortnight before, Kilmurry rally star Craig Breen returned to Irish Fiesta Sporting Trophy duties in last weekend’s (2/3 May) Killarney International Rally of the Lakes - and was once again the man to beat.
However, this would prove to be the young Waterford ace’s toughest event yet.
As Craig explains, “the rally started on Saturday morning with a daunting run up the world famous Molls Gap. After my big crash on the Circuit of Ireland, I was anxious to bring the car home in one piece - but also keen to get a respectable time on the board. I caught a slower car, which upset my rhythm and cost me vital seconds”.
Indeed he found himself well down the time-sheets at the finish. With their rivals laying down faster times, Craig and his navigator Gareth Roberts knew they needed to gather themselves and mount a charge - but couldn’t quite pull it off on the second stage.
As rain began to fall, Craig dropped more time after again coming across two slower cars that inadvertently baulked him as he tried to find his way past.
With a brief halt in the service area, his Tom Gahan Motorsport mechanics quickly made changes to the little Fiesta ST’s suspension which would prove to be crucial.
Craig promptly set the fastest time in the following stage, as his rivals failed to match his pace - or crashed trying.
“I remember saying to Gareth as we came back into the service park, ‘we’re a little bit faster now but there’s still lots of room for improvement’. But we were now up to second place and I was getting into my stride”.
Another fastest time on stage five brought the Gallo-Irish pair to within two seconds of the lead. It was now time to ‘give it death’, as they say in rallying and a stunning drive saw them develop what was to become an unassailable advantage, as the other crews struggled to make it to the finish line.
“Gareth and I are over the moon,” Craig told waiting journalists. “We had a hell of a lot of luck, especially as our competitors pushed us hard but began to fall by the wayside. Luck can be a factor in rallying and thankfully, today it was on our side!”
Saturday’s triumph has extended Breen and Roberts’ lead in the Irish Fiesta Sporting Trophy Championship to put them fifteen points clear of their nearest rivals.
