Craig’s season reaches a vital stage next weekend as he takes part in the UK Pirelli Star Driver Final. His inclusion in the final comes from Craig’s outstanding performance in the Jim Clark International Rally; Craig was leading the rally heading into the final stages when engine failure prematurely ended his charge but his drive to that point was rewarded with been announced the Pirelli Star Driver for the event and his nomination for the final next weekend.
The final shootout will be based in the Sweetlamb Rally Complex and is spread out over three days of competition, including testing driving, pace-note making and media skills as well as a basic fitness test and the all-important final interview.
Craig is one of nine finalists with one driver being selected from each of the six BRC championship rounds, with the winning Junior from Citroën Racing and Fiesta Sport Trophies as well as Swift Sport Cup and the overall Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge.
For the first time two separate stages will be used in the shootout, which the crews will not have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with, apart from on the two low speed reconnaissance passes of the gravel stages. All nine will, however, be given some time in both the front wheel drive and four wheel drive cars to get used to the unfamiliar vehicles.
This week Pirelli announced The victorious driver will take the wheel of a TEG Sport run Subaru Impreza on each of the seven rounds of the 2011 championship. “I predict that the standard in the final will be the best so far,” explained Pirelli’s Martin Pallot, we decided to take an option to continue with TEG Sport for a third year, I think the team’s professionalism and the car’s reliability, coupled with the 2010 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship driver’s title, proves that they can build and run a car to the very highest standard. Exactly what is needed for the eventual 2010 Pirelli Star Driver winner.”
The nine finalists are:
Elfyn Evans – International Rally North Wales & Fiesta SportTrophy Junior winner
Mikko Pajunen – Pirelli International Rally
Craig Breen – Jim Clark International Rally
Jarkko Nikara – International Rally Isle of Man
Daniel McKenna – Toddsleap.com Rally NI
Alastair Fisher – International Rally Yorkshire
Jonny Greer – Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge winner
Robert Barrable – Citroën Racing Trophy Junior winner
Tom Clark – Swift Sport Cup Junior winner
– Credit: www.rallyprint.com