The M-Sport driver alongside rally leader Ott Tanak appeared to be incorrectly shown a red flag by marshal on Stage 17 after officials had declared the resumption of the stage.
The final test of the day was initially red flagged and suspended when fifth-placed M-Sport driver Adrien Fourmaux ran off the road.
Officials threw the red flag to allow recovery crews to remove the stricken Ford Puma that had partially blocked the road. Once the car was cleared the stage resumed allowing M-Sport duo Pierre-Louis Loubet, Breen, and Hyundai’s Tanak to complete the test.
However, a marshal during the stage issued a red flag to Breen and Tanak resulting in the pair reducing their speed for the remainder of the stage, sparking confusion.
“I feel sorry for that poor woman that had the flag out because god help her she has been stood out in the heat all day long, and she is probably going to get screamed at for holding the flag out,” Breen told WRC All Live.
“I genuinely, genuinely feel sorry for her, but these things happen.”
Craig Breen, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
Photo by: M-Sport
The FIA has confirmed to Motorsport.com that it is investigating the situation.
The overall classification has since been updated ensuring Breen will start Sunday 46.0s behind leader Tanak. Hyundai’s Dani Sordo will begin the final day in third 1m06.6s adrift ahead of Loubet, Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota), Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) and Gus Greensmith (M-Sport).
Prior to the final stage, Breen had enjoyed arguably his strongest day in the Puma this season, and was the only driver to take a stage win away from Tanak on Stage 12.
The Irishman admitted that he felt much more “at ease” behind the wheel of the Puma having confessed to trying to overcomplicate his approach to recent rallies.
“Honestly, I’m really happy with how everything went today,” Breen added. “Our pace has been slowly getting better and better and I’m definitely feeling more and more confident with the…
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