Disappointment for Breen at Jim Clark

Craig Breen's up and down season continued this weekend with another non finish when leading his class at the Jim Clark International Rally. Craig taking part in his first tarmac event of the season was very downhearted afterwards "We had a minor off on stage 8 that punched a hole in the radiator got forcing us to retire. It's just another disappointing end to an event when we're leading."

The fourth round of the British Rally Championship saw the competing crews make the transition from gravel to tarmac and Irish driver Breen made the trip to the Scottish Borders looking for a good result. The rally was based in the town of Kelso and got underway on Friday evening with six stages. After a good recce on Thursday, Craig was looking forward to the fast stages in the dark. Craig took a cautious approach on the opening loop of three stages and was 9th overall, 3rd in Formula 2 and 2nd in both the R2 class and the Fiesta Sport Trophy.

On the second loop as darkness closed in Craig set the pace in R2 and even picking up a puncture didn't hold him back on stage 5. The Waterford driver finished the evening with best time of the R2 field on SS6 and overnight he stood 7th overall, holding a narrow lead in both the R2 Class and the Fiesta Sport Trophy.

Day two started with Polwarth (1), stage 7 and Craig was immediately on the pace, setting fastest time in the R2 class. Sadly his run came to a premature end on stage 8 when after a minor off the Fiesta's radiator sustained some damage and the Irish/Welsh crew had to retire. Craig said later "It's another event we come away from with the feeling of what could have been."

The Keltech Fiesta will be back on the stages again next weekend when Craig takes on the Rallye-du-Limousin in central France. The six stage event starts on Friday with two tests and then is followed on Saturday with a further 4 stages.