Breen to make emotional return in Finland

Craig Breen said his decision to return to the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship in Finland next month following the death of his co-driver Gareth Roberts was the most difficult he’s ever had to make.

The inaugural FIA WRC Academy champions were tackling the non-championship Targa Florio Rally in Sicily last month during a break from their SWRC campaign when Roberts lost his life in an accident on the second day of the event.

Breen, who suffered shock but was otherwise uninjured in the crash, has recruited fellow Irishman Paul Nagle to co-drive his Ford Fiesta S2000 on Neste Oil Rally Finland from 2-4 August.

“This has been the hardest decision of my life,” said Breen, 22. “I will never fully come to terms with Gareth’s death. It’s only with the support of my own family and Gareth’s family that I’m now ready to take the next step. I will never forget Gareth, we were firstly a driver/co-driver partnership but most of all we were best friends.

“Getting back behind the wheel again without the little man will be emotionally very hard but I know that Gareth would want me to continue. From our first event together we were winners and now I want to continue on that road with the same ambition.”

Breen is devoting a section of his website, www.craigbreen.com, in memory of Roberts, including a book of condolence, the eulogy read by former WRC co-driver Howard Davies at Roberts’ funeral, photographs and videos, plus details of how money can be donated to the Gareth Roberts Memorial Fund.