Breen leads at Rallye Deutschland

Irish driver Craig Breen holds a 12.1-second lead over Spain’s Yeray Lemes after stage 10 of the Rallye Deutschland.

Lemes held an overnight lead of 32 seconds from yesterday and extended it to 39 on the opening test this morning (stage 7).

Breen, however, hit back on stage 8, recording the fastest time and took over the lead when Lemes was involved in an accident costing him 55 seconds.

Breen then backed up his stage 8 win by taking stage 9. Lemes did beat Craig on the final stage in the loop (stage 10) by 5.8 seconds, but as the cars came in to service Breen held a 12.1- second lead.

Breen remarked in service: "I’m really chuffed with my morning’s work. We had to make up time this morning and I've been on the pace from the start. Yeray (Lemes) did have an off day but this came because both of us are pressing hard."

Four stages remain this afternoon and the finish is scheduled for 7pm (Irish time).