Craig Breen Crowned FIA WRC Academy Champion

In an unbelievable climax to the FIA WRC Academy Championship, Irish Rally Driver Craig Breen was crowned World Rally Championship Academy Champion and claimed prize of €500,000 amidst jubilant scenes on Saturday evening in Wales at the end of Wales Rally Great Britain. As the title went all the way to a cliff hanging final stage the 21-year-old from Waterford withstood the pressure to bring off the biggest win recent Irish Rallying history. There were nail-biting scenes at the end of the final stage as Craig crossed the finish line but then was required to wait until his nearest championship rival; Egon Kaur came through in a slower time. It became clear as Kaur neared the end of the test that he was down on time, Craig, his co-driver Gareth Roberts (Wales) and the Breen supporters erupted with emotion as the pressure was finally released and the Irish driver could celebrate his achievement.

The final event of the WRC Academy season setup a final round showdown, winner take all as Egon Kaur (Estonia) on 92 points and Craig Breen (Ireland) on 72 Points were the only two competitors that could take the title. The WRC Academy Championship points scoring system stated: 1st 25 points, 2nd 18 points, 3rd 15 points, 4th 12 points, 5th 10 points, 6th 8 points, 7th 6 points, 8th 4 points, 9th 2 points, 10th 1 point and the extra feature of a bonus point being scored for every fastest stage time within the class.

The odds were still stacked against Irish driver Breen, as he was required to win the rally and if Kaur finish second, he would be required to win fourteen of the seventeen stages that made up the event.

The final event of the six round WRC Academy series got under way on Thursday afternoon and entailed a double run of the Great Orme tarmac stage in North Wales. The opening day was then completed with the first foray into the Welsh forests for the 15.7 km stage of Clocaenog. Breen was pipped on the first stage by Australian Brendan Reeves by 1.1 second but on the rerun of the test Breen set his first fastest stage time of the weekend taking the overall lead by 2.1 sec. Then as the cars took on the first gravel test Breen showed a clean pair of heels, extending his advantage to 26.8s. His championship rival Kaur made a slow start and was down in sixth place, 53 seconds as the Academy went for the Thursday overnight halt.

Friday started early with the 19.72 km's of Gartheiniog and Craig was ready for the task setting equal fastest time with Alastair Fisher on the stage four morning opener.

Then over stages 5, 6 and 7, the Waterford man was in a class of his own. On Stage 5, Breen was 5.7sec quicker than Egon Kaur is main rival for the WRC Academy Championship, on stage 6 Breen was fastest by 4.2 from Fisher and then a perfect morning was rounded off on stage 7 when Craig was again 7.5sec ahead of Alastair Fisher who held second place.

Looking to the bigger picture of the Academy Championship, Breen continued to do his part by leading the event and racking up the fastest stage times. After the morning loop, Breen's total of fastest times had mounted to six from seven. Championship leader, Egon Kaur's stage time on Gartheiniog (SS4) moved him into third place on the rally and the consequences of this was that if Craig was to clench the title he would require to win the rally and claim 11 stage wins.

On arrival in service after his incredible morning's work Craig said, "I'm very pleased with the way the morning has gone. I have only one option here this weekend and that's to go all out for the win and secure as many fastest stage times as possible. With the current standings in the rally, Egon Kaur is in third place, so I need to win the event and score 11 fastest stage times to take the championship but it's going well so far. We still have a long way to go."

The weather deteriorated for the rerun as the forecasted rain arrived; this did not deter the Irish driver as Breen continued his assault, taking his fifth fastest time of the day and seventh in total on SS8, Dyfi West 2.

The academy crews then moved to SS9, Dyfi East 2 and yet again Breen persisted with his onslaught of setting fastest stage times, on this one he was 3.6 quicker than Tyrone man Alastair Fisher, who was now 53.3 seconds off Craig's astonishing pace. Egon Kaur posted the third best time on the 6.72km stage and remained in third overall 1:56.7 in arrears of the Irish driver.

So on to the penultimate stage of Friday (Gartheiniog 2) and there was no beating the Irish driver. On the rerun Craig set 13:27.3 for the 19.72 km's, Fisher came nearest but was still 8.6 away and Egon (Kaur) dropped another 22.7 seconds.

Day-Two was completed with the 21.34km's of Dyfnant 2 and Breen looked to have completed the perfect day with 8 fastest stage times when he set 17:32.8 and Egon Kaur who entered the stage first of the academy crews dropped 1 minute 46 seconds and the news that Alastair Fisher had suffered a puncture. But there was a late twist when Australian driver Molly Taylor recorded her first fastest stage time of the season going .7 of second faster than Craig. The drama on the stage had two repercussions, firstly with Fisher experiencing the problem, Kaur was elevated to second overall and with Molly stealing Craig of another fastest stage time, the Irish driver would require 5 fastest stage times on the final day.

At the end of the final stage Craig reported, "I set myself the task this morning to go for it but not take any risks. I'm over the moon with the amount of fastest stage times but we never went over the limit. We took it a stage at a time and as we entered midday service our confidence was very high. Over the repeat loop the stages were very wet and greasy. I was happy to set a good pace and with a good rhythm the fastest times continued to flow. There's bad news on that last stage as Alastair has dropped time elevating Egon (Kaur) to second place."

The final day in the inaugural season of the FIA WRC Academy was played out over a double loop of Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Myherin, three of the most famous 'special stages' in World Rallying. There was a change to the opening two days starting order where championship leader Egon Kaur led the academy field into each stage, for the final day Craig held the honour.

Craig entered the stage 31st on the start order and posted 21:59.5, Kaur began his final day's assault on a charge and took his first fastest time of the weekend. Breen hit back on the short Sweet Lamb 1 stage SS13 and then on the final test in the morning loop both Breen and Kaur battled it out with the Irishman taking it by 1 second.

This setup a dramatic final loop of three stages with Breen still requiring all three to tie the championship points table and win the series on count back of fastest stage times throughout the year. Kaur was off the pace on the rerun of Hafren 2 (32.14km) and finished 18.3sec down on Craig who racked up stage win number twelve of the weekend. Number thirteen for Breen quickly followed on the short 4km Sweet Lamb 2, SS13 where the Estonian again lost 15 seconds to Craig.

So on to the final stage of the 2011 season. By virtue of his better overall position Craig entered the stage eleven minutes before his arch rival, Kaur. As Craig negotiated the last 27km of the year it became clear his time would be slower than his earlier run, by the end the Irish driver posted 18:15.0, then, as Craig describes it, "The longest 11 minutes of my life", World Rally radio's Colin Clark was on hand and in constant contact with base to pass on Kaur's split times as the came through. Over the early splits the Estonian was just up on Craig but then it began to turn, by split five Craig .9s up and at the final split Craig was 1.8 up. There was a brief lull as Craig and his supporters breathlessly wait for Kaur's final time. Then as only Colin Clark can deliver, he announced that Craig had beaten Kaur and clenched VICTORY.