It was the moment that embodied the spirit of rallying. The end of the Myherin stage on the 2011 Rally GB. Craig Breen couldn’t keep still. Fastest time would mean the WRC Academy title and career very much up and running.
His hopes had been in tatters a couple of rallies before. The Irishman was 20 points down on Egon Kaur coming into Wales. And then he did it. He rolled out stage win after stage win to deliver one of the most unlikely victories in the history of the World Rally Championship. That win set him on the road he most wanted to travel.
That win was all about demonstrating the true spirit of rallying.
Breen's WRC Academy success was a major milestone in his career
And that’s why it’s ultimately fitting that the Craig Breen Spirit of Rallying Award will be won by a Junior WRC driver across the spread of this season.
It will be won by a driver demonstrating what Breen brought to the sport: a never-give-up attitude, ruthless determination to succeed and a smile and warmth that was extended to everybody.
M-Sport Poland managing director and Junior WRC manager Maciej Woda was a huge admirer of Breen, who lost his life in a testing crash last year.
“Craig has left an incredible mark on the Junior WRC,” said Woda. “First as a competitor and later as a mentor. He always found the time to offer advice and support to our next generation of stars.
“He also holds an incredibly special place in my own memory, as the first champion after the series became run by M-Sport Poland. It is important that we acknowledge his incredible impact on the championship, and we believe this award best honors his legacy.”
The award recipient will be decided by an independent judging panel and announced following the fifth and final round of the 2024 Junior WRC series, September’s Acropolis Rally Greece.
