Irishman Craig Breen joined 1994 world champion Didier Auriol to headline Saturday’s Rallyday event in Britain.

Breen arrived at the Castle Combe-based event after a day of Wales Rally GB testing for Hyundai Motorsport. Having stepped out of his i20, Breen joined a 35-year celebration of the MG Metro 6R4 by bringing his own example of the popular Group B car to the show.

Interviewed on stage by WRC All Live’s Becs Williams, the Irishman was a hugely popular addition to the day.

“I’ve really enjoyed the day,” said Breen. “It’s something very rare to get a collection of cars together like these here at Rallyday and to get them out on the track is even more special. I’m delighted to have been here and I’ll definitely be back to have another snoop around some more of these cars.”

The WRC’s history was well represented with cars from down the generations present, including some of the sport’s rarer metal like the Ford RS1700T – two of the five cars still in existence were there.

Rarer still was the Opel Calibra 4x4 Stig Blomqvist drove on the 1992 Swedish Rally, one of only two examples of the German manufacturer’s shot at Group A four-wheel drive rallying.

Rallyday offered a trip down the WRC's memory lane

Last year Lancia superstar Miki Biasion made his debut at the show and this time around it was former team-mate Auriol who thrilled fans in the sunshine. Despite having talked to Biasion about the event, the Frenchman admitted he was surprised by the crowd and cars.

Auriol said: “I didn’t expect so many good cars. Of course, I know Rallyday and the reputation of this event, so I knew it would be good – but this good! And the people, it’s amazing.

“Miki Biasion told me what a friendly event it was and it’s right. There are so many people coming and talking about when I drove the Toyota Corolla or the Lancia on the RAC. It’s a great day.”

The event featured the Legend Stage for the first time, an all-new lunchtime test which incorporated roads used when the WRC last visited the track in 1983.

Three generations of the McRae family – Jimmy, Alister and Max – were among the rally heroes who starred on that stage.

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