A debut win for the new Fiesta R2 on gravel in Ireland, nine fastest stage times in the Junior Rally and seventh place overall were made all the more remarkable as they came only a week after Breen underwent surgery to remove an inflamed appendix.

There was a doubt over his participation in the fourth forestry round of the championship but, after getting the go-ahead from the surgeon who performed the procedure, there was no stopping the young Waterford driver taking a start-to-finish win.