Craig Breen wrapped up a highly impressive Rally Sweden by securing second place behind Ott Tanak who took a crucial win for M-Sport Ford.
Tanak finished 18.7 seconds ahead of Hyundai i20 N driver Breen to take the lead in the series by three points after round two of 13.
Waterford man Breen, who has a part-time drive for Hyundai this season, and his co-driver James Fulton led for half of the rally but Tanak overtook him on Saturday to take an 8.6-second lead into the final day of action.
Team tactics saw Breen deliberately check in one-minute late to the pre-Wolf Power Stage regroup, earning a 10-second penalty to promote full-time colleague Thierry Neuville into the runner-up spot and give him extra drivers' championship points.
But Neuville slipped up in a sloppy run through the finale, with Breen moving back into second by 1.3 seconds.
Neuville was third ahead of Toyota Gazoo Racing's Kalle Rovanpera.
Just gonna leave this here.. ☝️#MIRallyAcademy pic.twitter.com/wHE6aIXOQs
— William Creighton (@WCreighton1) February 12, 2023
There was more good news for the Irish as William Creighton and co-driver Liam Regan pulled off a superb comeback to edge out Laurent Pellier and earn a first ever FIA Junior WRC victory.
Creighton had been in flying form in the Ford Fiesta Rally3 category until an issue with his car bonnet caused him to lose over a minute on Saturday.
He trailed Pellier by 19.7 seconds going into Sunday but three superb stages reeled in the Frenchman and gave Creighton the glory.
"Going to bed last night, I was doing my best to think that it was still possible, but it was difficult," said Creighton.
"I just can't believe we've managed it. I didn't lift for the final jump in the last stage, and I've never been so glad."
