Craig Breen's World Rally Championship season has ended in disappointment after he was forced to withdraw from the Rally of Japan.
Competing for the first time with new co-driver James Fulton, Breen had made a solid start to the rally on Thursday and was just 0.1 second behind overnight leader Sebastian Ogier after the opening night-time stage.
However Breen and Fulton dropped back to 11.5 seconds off the pace following stage 2 and they then ran into a barrier on stage four, forcing their retirement from the race.
Ogier also suffered a collision, with his coming on stage 6, but the eight-time champions appeared to escape with just cosmetic damage and was okay to continue.
The Rally of the Japan was Breen’s first race since the retirement on long-time co-driver Paul Nagle.
Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin lead the rally after six stages, holding a 3.0 second lead over Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe, with world champions Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen just 2.1 seconds further back.
Autumnal conditions in Japan are leading to debris and piled leaves on the track, which Evans admits is causing problems.
"The stages are very demanding and there’s a different feeling in all of them – you’re always wanting something different from the car," he said.
"Tomorrow is more of the same and it’s changeable. You’ve got some very fast sections and then more of the slow and twisty."
