The Irishman, contesting a partial season with the Korean model, shortly gelled with the i20 N to chalk up three stage wins that helped the previous M-Sport driver right into a slender 2.6s benefit.
Breen’s afternoon push helped the 33-year-old snatch the lead from Tanak, who had held sway heading into the noon service. Tanak was nevertheless in a position to reply late on Friday with a primary stage win of the season to slash Breen’s lead that had stood at 10.5s.
Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi will head in to Saturday in third, 11.2s adrift having leapfrogged in a single day chief world champion Kalle Rovanpera on Friday’s opening stage.
After struggling for tempo throughout the morning, Elfyn Evans ended the day fourth, 26.5s behind, however forward of Rovanpera, whose superior street place contributed to the Finn sliding down the order.
Rovanpera will begin Saturday 31.1s behind and is the final manufacturing unit Toyota in rivalry after Takamoto Katsuta retired resulting from damages sustained in a roll in stage 5. Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and M-Sport’s Pierre-Louis Loubet crammed the highest seven.
Deep ruts on the primary stage of the afternoon, the second go of Brattby, rendered the take a look at as one which the place survival was key.
The situations appeared to swimsuit Breen because the Hyundai driver produced a blistering time to succeed in the stage finish 7.8s quicker than his nearest rival M-Sport’s Pierre-Louis Loubet, who additionally clicked with tough street floor.
Breen’s effort was sufficient to leapfrog Tanak into the general lead.
Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, M-Sport Ford World Rally Staff Ford Puma Rally1
Photograph by: M-Sport
“I may in all probability be the mayor of Brattby at this stage,” stated a jubilant Breen. “The automobile is totally on rails – I’ve by no means had something like this earlier than. Extra of that please.”
Tanak dropped 9.8s to Breen within the take a look at as he got here by way of fourth quickest behind Lappi.
The situations favoured the latter runners as Rovanpera, first into the take a look at, dropped 21.3s, and emerged slower than WRC2 chief Oliver Solberg and his class rival Emil Lindholm.
“Simply earlier than the stage I obtained a message that traction has left the chat,” smiled Rovanpera. “There was not a lot I may do – I barely survived the stage however it was actually tough.”
Neuville and Evans have been amongst these simply hoping to outlive with the previous vocal relating to the situations.
“It’s worse than another 12 months, it’s so unfastened in there and the ruts are very deep, so that you simply attempt to survive,” stated Neuville, who sustained bodywork injury to the entrance and rear of his i20 N.
Katsuta was nevertheless caught out on the stage as he rolled his GR Yaris after a collision with a snowbank. Fortunately he and co-driver Aaron Johnston have been in a position to attain the end with heavy injury to the entrance and rear of the automobile.
Esapekka Lappi, Janne Ferm, Hyundai World Rally Staff Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photograph by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport
The pair reached Stage 6 however have been pressured to retire resulting from a leaking radiator that was unable to be fastened, regardless of stopping at a home on the path to supply some water.
On the entrance, Breen resumed his cost in Stage 6 because the solar started to set, claiming his third stage win of the occasion. This time he pipped an enhancing Evans by 2.6s.
Tanak reached the stage finish two tenths slower than Evans regardless of a ragged run, the place the Estonian skirted with hazard on a number of events.
Rovanpera was in a position to restrict the injury of being first into the take a look at, ending solely 4.3s adrift of Breen.
There was loads of drama elsewhere as Lappi overshot a junction, which value him beneficial seconds, whereas Rally1 privateer Lorenzo Bertelli was fortunate {that a} group of spectators have been in a position to push his Toyota out of a deep snowbank.
After exhibiting promise in Stage 5, Loubet suffered a suspected mechanical concern within the entrance of his Ford Puma that attributed to his 9.6s deficit within the stage.
As darkness fell, Tanak lit up the timing screens to clinch M-Sport’s first stage win of the 12 months, slashing Breen’s total result in 6.4s.
The time got here regardless of the Estonian struggling together with his tyres as they penetrated by way of the snow layer and into the gravel street floor beneath.
Lappi maintained his pursuit of the leaders, 0.9s slower than Tanak however 3.2s quicker than Breen.
Rovanpera was among the many largest losers on the stage as tyre put on performed an element in dropping 11.3s to the leaders.
The Finn ended the day in fashion by successful Stage 7 (Umea Dash) with a 0.5s margin over Tanak, whereas Breen dropped 4.3s.
Rally Sweden continues with an extra seven phases on Saturday.