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2010 Pirelli Star Driver Shootout

Posted: August 15, 2010 10:00 AM - 7346 Hits

Craig Breen makes it through to the world finals...
More Details to follow

Breen Secures Place in Pirelli Star Driver Global Shootout

Posted: August 15, 2010 10:00 AM

Saturday 14th August, Waterford’s Craig Breen secured a place in the 2010 Pirelli Star Driver Global Shootout today when he finished second in the North European Regional final in Sweden. The event took place in conjunction with the Snapphane Rally in Hässleholm. Craig was up against Dave Weston Jnr from the UK, Esapekka Lappi from Finland and Fredrik Ahlin from Sweden.

Craig said after the finish
"It was an honour to be nominated by Motorsport Ireland and the Irish Sports Council. I wanted to come out here and do my best; I'm delighted to have secured a place in the Pirelli Global Shootout. I drew the short straw in the shootout seeding and was first on road. This was a bit of a disadvantage as the gravel surface was very loose. I knew I would drop some time to the other competitors so I set the best pace I could. To have been nominated for this event, record my best WRC result in Finland and now qualify for the Global final in just a matter of a few weeks gives me great confidence for the remainder of the season.

The Pirelli Star Driver Global Shootout is scheduled for later in season and will take place in Euro. Next up for Craig is the Ulster Rally next weekend. The rally forms both rounds of the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship and Citroen Irish Rally Championship.

Craig Breen Preview

Posted: August 11, 2010 1:55 PM

Only ten days have passed since Craig recorded his best World Rally result in Finland, now the Waterford driver is already back again in Scandinavia. This time to participate in the Pirelli Star Driver Shootout. The competition has reached the European stage and Craig will go up against the best young talent in the northern region, include drivers from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany and Great Britain. The shootout will run in conjunction with the Snapphane Rally in Hässleholm, which takes place on Saturday; the rally consists of five gravel special stages totaling 43 Km and Craig will get an opportunity to carry out his recce on Friday. When the event begins participants will be organized so that every SS will be classified separately (10, 8, 6, 5, 4 and 3 points) and at the end of the day the driver with the highest points will be declared the winner. With two or more Competitors at the same points at the end of the event, the winner will be the one with most points on the first stage, still not decision we then move to the second stage and so on. A driver, who does not finish a SS, may continue with the competition at any of the other SS when possible from an organising point. This means that the winner of the Shootout does not necessarily have to finish the event. The winner and second placed driver will then go forward to take part in the Global Qualifying Shootout later in the year.

Craig received news of his selection for the event just days before World Rally Finland from Motorsport Ireland. At that time MI and the Irish Sport Council were delighted to announce Craig as their nomination for the event in Sweden and now as Craig represents his Country for the first time they give their full backing to the current young rally driver of the year
"Craig epitomises everything we had wished for when the Young Driver Scholarship was first created. We have no doubt that Craig will do Motorsport Ireland and the Irish Sports Council proud."

MSA nominates Dave Weston Jnr to represent UK in 2010 Pirelli Star Driver Northern European Shootout

Posted: August 11, 2010 12:50 PM

The Motor Sports Association (MSA) has selected MSA Team UK member Dave Weston Jnr as the UK’s candidate for the 2010 Pirelli Star Driver Northern European Shootout.

Weston Jnr, 19, will head to Hässleholm, Sweden, from 13-14 August to contest the Snapphane Rally against drivers nominated by up to five other national governing bodies, including Sweden, Finland and Ireland. The top two drivers on the five-stage event will go through to the FIA Pirelli Star Driver Global Shootout, where they will compete for a sponsored drive in a 2011 FIA World Rally Championship support category.

Weston Jnr said:
“I’m over the moon to have been nominated; it’s not every day you get asked to go to Sweden to represent the UK. I’m hoping for a good run and I’m confident that I can challenge for the prize.”

Weston Jnr’s selection was confirmed by MSA Performance Director and 2001 World Rally Champion co-driver Robert Reid.

Reid said:
“Dave has shown good pace in both the MSA British Rally Championship and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season. I am sure that he will represent the UK’s national squad with distinction and make it through to the Global Shootout.”

MSA Chief Executive Colin Hilton said:
“The Pirelli Shootout has been a welcome addition to the sport in the past two years and the prize has created the kind of opportunity that our Team UK drivers are aiming for. We wish Dave every success in Sweden and will be following his progress with interest.”

Craig Breen to take part in Northern European section - (Sat) 14 Aug 10

Posted: July 28, 2010 6:10 PM

Motorsport Ireland are delighted to announce that Craig Breen, the current Irish Young Rally Driver of the Year and Billy Coleman Award winner, has been nominated to represent Ireland in the Northern European section of the FIA Pirelli Star Driver Shootout. The shootout will take place in conjunction with the Snapphane Rally in Hässleholm, Sweden, on August 14. Craig will compete against drivers from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany and the UK.

The shootout will be based over five Special Stages, totalling 43 km on a gravel surface. The top two drivers will go forward from this shootout to the FIA Pirelli Star Driver Global Qualifying Shootout later in the year, leading to a fully sponsored drive in the FIA World Rally Championship for the eventual winner.

Craig was one of the leading young lights in Irish rallying last season when he secured the National Junior Rally Championship, a hat trick of Fiesta Sport Trophy Championships, and ended the season winning the Billy Coleman Award.

The Waterford driver is currently on a twelve-month work experience contract with M-Sport, the organisation responsible for running the Ford World Rally Championship Team. Craig is also taking part in both the Irish Tarmac and British Rally Championships this year.

Topics: Pirelli Shootout 

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