Breen Heads WRC Academy Field on Day-One of World Rally France

Craig Breen's bid to win the inaugural FIA WRC Academy Cup has received a huge boost on the opening day of Rallye de France Alsace.

The Irishman, one of six Pirelli Star Drivers competing in the training category, reached Friday's overnight halt in Strasbourg leading by 24.6s. With title leader Egon Kaur crashing out on stage three, Breen has been handed a tremendous opportunity to close the gap to his rival with one round remaining. Breen dominated the day's eight stages, taking six fastest stage times. A puncture on stage six the only hold up as the Strasbourg based event basked in glorious sunshine and temperatures in the mid twenties.

"It's a shame what happened to Egon, we were in exactly the same position in Sardinia earlier this season," said Breen, who has claimed six bonus points for his sequence of stage wins. "We retired early on the Friday so we have to keep in mind that anything can happen. We are keeping a quite steady pace and not pushing overly hard."

Breen made a cautious start on Friday morning on the opening stage recording 9th fastest time, 9.8 seconds down on Spanish driver Yerey Lemes. Breen however hit back over stages two and three and four to set fastest stage times to overhaul his Spanish rival and take an 26.3 sec lead into midday service.

The Waterford driver continued to set the pace as the afternoon action resumed with stage five and Breen again topping the times extending his lead to 31.8

He was temporary slowed on stage six when his Fiesta R2 sustained a puncture six Kilometres from the end. Lemes took advantage of Breen bad luck and cut the Irish driver's lead to 18.2

With the ailing tyre changed Breen finished the day with to more fastest times to round off an exemplary performance.