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Breen made a powerful begin to the gravel rally sitting second after Thursday’s tremendous particular, earlier than transferring into the lead briefly when the rally headed onto New Zealand’s well-known gravel roads.
The Irishman ended the morning loop sitting 2.6s behind Hyundai’s Ott Tanak in second earlier than his rally got here to an abrupt halt on Stage 5 after setting a blistering tempo on the early break up occasions.
Heading right into a right-hander, that beforehand caught out Colin McRae in 2002, Breen slid broad, leading to his Ford Pumas working off the highway and down a steep financial institution. The error was Breen’s fourth within the final 5 rallies.
Spectators have been in a position to pull the automobile again onto the highway through a tow rope however 18 minutes had been misplaced within the course of. Breen would later retire on the next highway part on account of a clutch drawback.
Talking after reaching the cease line at Stage 5, a gutted Breen stated: “I do know I should not be doing all these errors, but it surely’s f****** robust.”
M-Sport boss Millener was shocked to see Breen fall off the highway at a spot that’s identified by the drivers as a possible hazard.
“It was an actual shock to see Craig off the highway as he regarded relaxed and the occasions have been actually good,” stated Millener.
“We have been in with an actual likelihood this weekend, but it surely simply goes to indicate how shortly that may all disappear.
“Typically these guys are very conscious of corners that catch individuals out. Even I watched that clip of Colin [McRae] working off there so it’s clearly a nook that may catch individuals out.
Craig Breen, Paul Nagle, M-Sport Ford World Rally Workforce Ford Puma Rally1
Photograph by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
“The blokes know the tempo notes very effectively and so they know the highway circumstances very effectively. I am simply very stunned to see Craig off the highway. It’s gutting for everyone concerned.
“It’s one factor doing it and getting the person occasions however it’s one other factor ending after three days. It’s a mistake Craig will keep in mind for a very long time and I am positive he will likely be very upset with himself.”
With this the most recent of a sequence of errors from the group’s lead driver, Millener plans to take a seat down with Breen to know why the errors are occurring.
“The rationale he’s within the automobile is as a result of he has proven the power to do it,” Millener added.
“We assist our drivers by means of the great occasions and the exhausting occasions, however finally we attempt to give them the automobile and the sources to do it, however we won’t assist them with the driving.
“Sadly this one appears like a easy mistake of being too quick into that nook which is tough to simply accept for us all, together with Craig.
“We’ve simply bought to have a sit down and perceive why that is taking place, however finally that is one thing Craig goes to should concentrate on himself.”
Breen is anticipated to rejoin Rally New Zealand on Saturday underneath restart guidelines.
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