WRC Academy
title fight
wide open,
says Breen

Kaur, from Estonia, had raced into a 52-point lead in the new-for-2011 driver-training category on the back of three straight victories. While Kaur had to settle for eighth place in the class on ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Breen claimed his maiden victory to secure 25 points plus five additional bonus points for going fastest on five special stages.

“It’s difficult to describe the feeling in words,” said Irishman Breen. “I was determined to win in Germany after the second place in Finland. I wasn’t thinking about the season, I was just thinking stage by stage. Winning was really good and we have halved Egon’s lead. If we can get a further 26 points in France, then we can go into Wales Rally GB equal. But it won’t be easy.”

Kaur, whose outing in Germany marked a rare appearance on Tarmac, was delayed by a spate of punctures. Nevertheless, he has not given up on his title dream: “We still have the lead and that is important. I have to keep concentrating for the remaining rallies.”

Australian Brendan Reeves arrived in Germany equal on points with Breen in second. However, a troubled event, which included going off the road on the opening day, meant he failed to score WRC Academy Cup points for the first time this season. He slipped to third in the standings, one place in front of Spaniard Yeray Lemes, who finished second in Germany.

“I’m actually surprised to still be third,” said Reeves. “We pushed hard and had some promising times but unfortunately we couldn't quite match the pace of the Tarmac specialists."

Italian Andrea Crugnola, who like Breen forms part of the six-strong Pirelli Star Driver team, has climbed to sixth position in the overall classification following his first podium finish of the season. He is two points behind his Czech Republic team-mate Jan Cerny.

“Finishing in the top three is one of my objectives,” said Crugnola. “There are eight of us very close in the standings, all within a few points of each other.”