Hmmm might be why STi developed the flex joint brace.
Here's an older thread about the STi brace and how good it is. Also reading around it seems solid braces are meant mostly for track use where this flex design allows for potholes, rougher roads and vertical forces typically not experienced on the track. It may be vertical movement that could of caused this break not horizontal. I'm still reading up on all this.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22441
