Three questions to Craig Breen

Saintéloc Racing’s young Irish star on returning to the IRC and his prestigious award win

How important was getting to the finish of Rallye Sanremo, your first start in the IRC since the accident on Targa Florio-Rally Internazionale Di Sicilia that claimed the life of your former co-driver Gareth Roberts?

“It was a pretty difficult week. It’s the first time I was back in the cockpit of a Peugeot 207 Super 2000, and the first time I returned to Italy since the accident. Racing on the same type of terrain reminded me of that day in June. I’m happy with my performance.”

You could have finished higher than sixth but for a puncture. What happened?

“It was 500 metres after a village where there were many spectators. I took too fine a line and I had a puncture. It didn’t prevent us from continuing to push even if the main objective was to finish.”

Winning the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy must have been satisfying?

“I grew up in the Colin McRae era. He was a hero and I remember being Colin McRae on the PlayStation. This is a very big award for me.”