Living a dream!

Hey everyone,
We done it, can you believe it?! I sat behind this very keyboard on my last blog stating that I had to win 13 stages out of 17, and thought to myself, this is going to be a tall order. But it was just one, or three rather, of those days where everything just clicks! It nearly made me more relaxed, as I knew that it wasn't really expected that we could pull of such a feat, but to me, anything is possible. I again, put massive preperation into the event, pulling out all the stops to ensure I would be in the best position possible to win. The recce, pre-event test, everything all went really smoothly, and as the event drew nearer, I was feeling more and more confident in what I was doing, perfect.
I'm not going to go too indept into the whole weekend, but from our first stage on Great Orme on Thursday evening, we just settled into this perfect rhythm, and it was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. We lost the first stage to Brendan Reeves by a second, but from there on, we were on a roll! By the end of the first proper leg, our stage wins were up to 9, and we were leading comfertably, all going to plan.
We started the last leg, with it all left to do, six stages and we needed four more, how hard could it be?! But we recieved a bitter blow on the first stage, when Egon was fastest, which now ment we had to win every stage to the finish! It was the most strangest feeling, the moment I realised that Egon had gone quicker, this calmness came over me, and I feel it was the biggest thing that helped me. I knew what I had to do, and there was only one stategy, flat out. We were quickest in Sweet Lamb which has always been a difficult one for me and again in Myherin, we were nearly there. Three stages to go, three stages between me and my childhood dream, I had to give it my all! We pushed to the limit in the first one out of service, perhaps even a little to hard, and were quickest by 18 seconds. Again in Sweet Lamb, quickest, leaving the final 28Km of Myherin to decide the series. We just pushed resonably hard, and tried not to think of the championship. We came to the end of the stage, and then the flow of emotion came over us. We had to wait a whole 11 minutes before Egons came to the finish. It was an agonising wait, but on the 11 minute, WRC TV's Julian Porter informed the crows, "22,1!" We had done it! What an amazing feeling, I don't think I could ever find the words to describe it. All our hard work and effort had finaly paid off, it was such a feeling of joy and elation, just incredible.
I couldn't believe that we had done it, after all the ups and downs during the season, we had proved that we had what it takes. And now, €500,000 better off thanks to the prizemoney, we have secured a season in the SWRC in 2012, perfect.
I hadn't any time to relax, as I was rushed off to Austria the following day for the FIA Institute Shootout in Melk. The week took in all the aspect of being a professional driver; fitness, media, pschology, driving etc.. I was honoured to be selected out of the 30 there to go into the final panel of 18, a very positive step in my career as a driver, and an athlete. It was also a proud moment for me, when on the last day I won the Race of Champions event, against some of the best racing drivers, in a race car, on a race track....a big hurdle for me!
So! A few days to relax before the exciting FIA Awards, this year in New Dehli, India. Can't wait to take the trip over and see a whole new part of the World for me, sould be very exciting! Then the first workshop of the FIA Institute in Edinborough, busy times ahead.
A little relax this weekend, Mel Harries Memorial Rally with Gareth in the 4 door Escort, can't wait!
All the best,
Craig