Craig Breen wins 2009 Fiesta SportTrophy International

h3000

Another great result for Irish motorsport.

WRC.COM wrote:

Breen collects FSTi crown as Anglade wins in Wales

While Loeb and Hirvonen's nail-biting duel for the 2009 WRC title stole much of the limelight on the rally of Great Britain, the finale of the Fiesta SportTrophy International was almost as tense, with Irish teenager Craig Breen snatching the title from Germany’s Patrick Anglade thanks to a series of calculated stage wins on the last round of the WRC season.

Anglade, 21, and co-driver Peter Loth took victory in the rally along with a class win in their Fiesta ST, while Breen, 19, and co-driver Gareth Roberts could only manage third in their Fiesta R2, behind Turkey’s Emre Yurdakul.

In the early stages of the rally things didn't go well for Breen. A puncture on SS3 did not lose him significant time, but his challenge almost came to an end on Friday's last test, SS6, when a wire became disconnected from his car's ECU and he hit a rock forcing a tyre change. The incidents cost him almost nine minutes.

But thanks to the FSTi points system, which rewards individual stage wins as well as overall results, Breen was still able to take a strong points haul from the event, even if Anglade's first place was out of reach. Breen's final tally of 12 fastest times from 16 stages enabled him to build a superior annual points total to that of his German rival.

The win marked the first championship title for the Fiesta R2, which made its WRC debut on the previous event in Spain. Breen’s prize is an all-expenses-paid test in the latest specification Ford Focus RS WRC with Ford factory driver Mikko Hirvonen.

"After dropping so much time on Friday, I was sure the championship was lost," said Breen. "Patrick wasn’t going to make it easy for me and the championship battle chopped and changed by a point here and a point there until the mid-point of the rally. It was totally petrifying out there on Sunday and I was really just tip-toeing around the stages trying not to make a mistake. I believe I’m the first driver to win a championship - two championships - in the Fiesta R2. I’m over the moon.”

Linky

hi_sir

great year for graig this really the iceing on the cake this one also credit has to go to tom gahan runs the cars to the highst standard

hge19

One major up and coming talent. Serious pilot!

h3000

Update: 09 december 2009

To top a great year off Craig Breen wins Fiesta series grand finale

http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=6600&desc=Craig%20Breen%20wins%20Fiesta%20series%20grand%20finale

wrc.com wrote:

Multiple Fiesta SportTrophy International champion Craig Breen has rounded off a near-perfect season by winning the series' finale Shootout, held on Monday and Tuesday at the Ford team's rally headquarters in the UK.

Breen, aged 19 from Ireland, beat off challenges from 15 other finalists to take victory at the shootout, increasing his tally of victories this year to six after becoming FSTi champion, FST UK champion, FST Ireland champion, Irish Junior Rally champion and winning the Billy Coleman Award in his home country.

His Shootout prize includes a 12-month work experience contract with M-Sport, an apartment at the Ford team's Dovenby Hall HQ and the loan of a road car. He will also attend European WRC events with the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

While Breen had been one of the favourites to take the title he faced stiff opposition over the two-day competition. The 16 competitors, who had qualified for the Shootout based on their performances in FST championships around the globe, faced a series of physical and psychological tests as well as a final driving challenge on a three kilometre stage in a GpN Fiesta ST at M-Sport's Greystoke Forest.

With all of their scores tallied, the final five candidates were interviewed by M-Sport Managing Director Malcolm Wilson. Breen was joined in the final group by Germany's Patrick Anglade, Northern Ireland’s Mark Donnelly, Swede Mattias Wennman and Cedric de Cecco from Belgium.

However, Breen’s ability behind the wheel shone through as he posted the fastest times in the forest with co-driver Gareth Roberts. The first part of his prize begins on Wednesday when he gets the chance to take the wheel of a Ford Focus RS WRC and receive tuition from Ford team-leader Mikko Hirvonen.

“Winning this title really has left me lost for words," said Breen. "I have had a fantastic debut season and to win the championship in that same year was incredible, but this is something else altogether. I had set myself the target of winning this at the start of the year and I am so pleased that I have managed to achieve that. It is a fantastic opportunity that I have been given to work with M-Sport and I can’t wait to start.”

Malcolm Wilson said: “Craig has shone above the rest during this competition. He has had a fantastic year to win the FSTi, FST UK and FST Ireland and he is a deserved winner."

Big congrats to Craig

hi_sir

they year gets better for graig,and 2010 ill be a big year for the lad on the payroll of m-sport for the year, brc, select wrc events and a possiable ITC campagin.aswell as spenting the next day or two testin the Focus WRC with Mikko Hirovonen,this is some oppertunite all for a lad that is just a year rallying

se conman

Craig also won the Billy Colman award yesterday which comes with €50,000 sponsership from Motorsport Ireland and The Irish Sports Council.Congrats.

hi_sir

he'll be the boy in the BRC next year pirelli star driver could have his work cut out

madmarco245

Keith Cronin, Craig Breen... The future of Irish Rally is lookin' good