2022 might have been a year to forget for Craig Breen, but his first start in 2023 has banished some of the bad memories and served as a reminder that he is indeed one of the best drivers in the World Rally Championship.
For the sixth time in his career, Breen stood on the second step of the podium following a hard-fought weekend with his former teammate, Ott Tänak.
🥈🏆 THIS ONE WAS SPECIAL! 🏆🥈#WRC #RallySweden #HMSGOfficial pic.twitter.com/UmS9JW9TzG
— Craig Breen (@Craig_Breen) February 12, 2023
The Waterford native was leading the rally on Friday night having set the fastest times on the second, fifth and sixth stages. He would go on to win the tenth stage on Saturday, albeit while suffering from a hybrid unit issue that hampered his pace.
His second-place result is a career-equaling best finish on the WRC and speaking to BT Sport after crossing the line on Sunday, Breen was expectedly emotional, "We're happy. Obviously, it's been an incredible weekend and I don't know why I'm tearing up now, but it's just been great to be back at the front," he said. He added, "It's been such a horrible, horrible black place where I was last year. Don't let anybody ever put you down, because only you know your true potential. The people close to me know it and finally, we managed to finally get it back out again".
Breen's confidence must have taken a heavy knock in the winter break. He had been backed by Ford to succeed and it had not worked out. The mental fortitude he has shown to bounce back at the first time of asking needs to be respected.
His return to Hyundai offered a lifeline to a driver who is clearly gifted and his result this past weekend has laid down a marker for the others drivers; when Breen is picked, he is likely to cause problems for the rest of the paddock.
