WRC Estonia: Overnight leader Breen retires after Stage 4 off
Overnight Rally Estonia leader Craig Breen has retired from Friday’s running following an off on Stage 4 of the gravel World Rally Championship event.
Photo by: M-Sport
The M-Sport-Ford driver started the day leading the event after winning Thursday night’s super special, and remained in podium contention across Friday’s opening two stages.
However his hopes of challenging for a third rostrum of the season unravelled on the penultimate stage of the morning loop while sitting in fourth position, 14.2s adrift of Toyota's rally leader Elfyn Evans.
Breen was pushing hard in Stage 4, but ran wide on a left-hander resulting in his Puma running into the grass run off area on the exit.
Unfortunately, Breen hit something solid in the undergrowth which damaged his front suspension, leaving his Puma stranded in the bushes and unable to be recovered.
The incident has curtailed his rally for the day, leaving the Irishman to salvage minor points from the remainder of the event.
Breen was touted among the favourites for victory in Estonia after finishing second in the previous two editions of the rally with Hyundai.
“He was pushing as hard as he can to keep with the top guys - I've always thought this rally is one of those ones where if you are not pushing over the limit, then you are not going to be at the top of the leaderboard,” said M-Sport team principal Richard Millener.
Craig Breen, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
Photo by: M-Sport
“He was going incredibly well and it was such a shame to see him slide off the road.
“He has broken the front suspension, he has hit a rock or touched something as he has gone off, so that is why he can’t continue.
“It is pretty much the end of the rally for him in terms of competing for a top position, which is a real shame.”
With Evans still leading Hyundai's Ott Tanak and Toyota championship leader Kalle Rovanpera, Breen’s demise has promoted Tanak's team-mate Thierry Neuville to fourth overall, while Esapekka Lappi has climbed to fifth despite battling a brake issue on his return to the third Toyota.
Adrien Fourmaux is now heading M-Sport’s charge in sixth, with team-mates Gus Greensmith and Pierre-Louis Loubet eighth and ninth respectively.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
WRC looking to add F1-style team radio to TV broadcasts
Gravel Notes Podcast: WRC Croatia review
The eight minutes of madness that saw Ogier strike in Croatia
Auction raises more than €50K for Craig Breen Foundation
Why Craig Breen is remembered for his "heart on sleeve" approach
The WRC star that's earned the right to lead M-Sport's revival
Ford simulator boosting M-Sport WRC Puma performances
Why tough love has allowed Fourmaux to reach new WRC heights
Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion
The plot twist that gave Arrow McLaren’s Ward his first IndyCar win as team principal
Formula E’s new Gen3 Evo car breaks cover
The weekly reality check that has kept MotoGP hype off of Acosta so far in 2024
F2 veteran Ghiotto to make IndyCar debut with Dale Coyne Racing at Barber
The eight minutes of madness that saw Ogier strike in Croatia
How Rovanpera showed his class above his WRC rivals in Kenya
How a new 'old' challenge is capturing the spirit of British rallying lore
How Lappi survived Swedish snow carnage to snap his lengthy WRC drought
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments