Breen will fight on

Craig Breen will return to the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship at next month's Rally Finland, after having made the “hardest decision” of his life.

Breen has been out of rallying since the tragic death of his long-time co-driver Gareth Roberts on the Targa Florio Rally last month. Breen and Roberts were entered in the Italian event on a one-off drive in a Peugeot 207 S2000, similar to the one they drove at the Circuit of Ireland for the Sainteloc team.

By now, the events of the tragedy are well known. But Breen hasn't stepped in a rally car since then, and as a result missed Rally of New Zealand. Hayden Paddon won the event, and now leads the championship by 19 points.

But, in an incredibly brave move, and with a blessing from Roberts' family, the Waterford ace had made the decision to come back to rallying, and go all out for the SWRC crown. 2009 IRC Champion co-driver Paul Nagle will navigate for him on Rally Finland, as they bid to close the gap to Paddon.

“This has been the hardest decision of my life. I will never fully come to terms with Gareth’s death. It’s only with the support of my own family and Gareth’s family that I’m now ready to take the next step. I will never forget Gareth, we were firstly a driver/co-driver partnership but most of all we were best friends.” said Breen.

Breen admitted that getting back to competing again with out 'Jaffa', as Roberts was affectionately known, will be tough. But he also knows that getting back to the sport he loves and has been successful at is exactly what 'Jaffa' would have wanted.

“Getting back behind the wheel again without the little man will be emotionally very hard but I know that Gareth would want me to continue. From our first event together we were winners and now I want to continue on that road with the same ambition.” he added.

He also announced that in honour of Roberts life and career, Breen will offer a section of his personal website, www.craigbreen.com, in memory of Roberts.

“To honour Gareth I will be adding a new section to my website to remember him. In this section there will be the book of condolence that already carries over 2000 messages, The Eulogy from Gareth's funeral by Howard Davies, full details of how you can donate to the Gareth Roberts fund and three years of photographic and video memories.”