World Rally Finland - End of Day One

Craig Breen had a very poignant return to World Rallying today in Finland on round five of the Super 2000 World Championship. The rally being Craig's first event since the death of friend and co driver Gareth Roberts in Sicily in June. Before the rally, Craig described the event as a new chapter in his career as he continued on in the hope of fulfilling his and the dream of Gareth to reach the top of the sport.


After the opening three stages Craig is placed 4th in SWRC and 18th overall but taking the start line of this rally had a lot more importance then any results that were achieved today or will be over the weekend.


On the opening stage (Koukunmaa 13.68km) this afternoon Craig slotted in at 4th, 8.9 seconds behind championship leader Hayden Paddon who set the pace but that stage conveyed all the emotion that Craig had been carrying over the last few weeks, at the end Craig said, "I just needed to get through that stage, sad feeling. I have to thank everybody that has been behind me over the last few months for giving me the courage to get here, I've a lot of emotions right now."


Over the short "Jokimaa" Superspecial, stage 2 (2km) there was no change to the leader board and on the third and final test of the day one, Craig was just 6.6 seconds away from stage winner Esapekka Lappi (Finland) ending the day in 4th, 15.9 seconds from the SWRC leader Esapekka Lappi.


At the end of the stage Craig showed more of emotion that was welling inside him, "I can't believe I've had the strength to finish this day. Six weeks ago I thought it was the end of a dream, I'm just happy to be here."


Day two of the event is the longest of the rally with a total of 9 special stages, with the opening Friday morning test scheduled to start at 07.42 am local time.