News: Ireland's Craig Breen takes rally top spot with Peugeot
Craig Breen, Super World Rally Championship winner 2012, will race in eight European Rally Championship (ERC) events this year and has landed the new Peugeot Sport Factory Rally Driver title. Craig's first rally event for 2013, competing in the colours of Peugeot Sport, will be at the Rally Liepaja-Ventspils, Latvia 1- 3 February.
Craig, Irish International Driver of the Year 2012, has long been loyal to Peugeot and is already very familiar with the 207 Super 2000, having driven it during many IRC events. The Rallye du Var, France, formed a fitting 2012 finale for Craig in his Peugeot 207 Super 2000, when the newly crowned SWRC Champion showcased all his capabilities and climbed from 6th to seize third podium position.
The performance rounded off a sensational 2012 season for Craig, who hails from Waterford, and now his allegiance to Peugeot Sport continues. Under his new Peugeot Sport partnership, Craig has been selected to take his place alongside two other young rally stars, Jérémi Ancian and Stéphane Lefebvre, at a new Peugeot Sport Rally Academy.
When not competing in the Peugeot 207 S2000, Craig will lead an intensive test programme for the new Peugeot 208 Type R5, destined for the ERC scene in late 2013. On the announcement from Peugeot Sport, Craig Breen said, "This is incredible and beyond my dreams. I am really excited to work with a manufacturer like Peugeot Sport." Craig has also contributed to the development of the Peugeot 208 R2, and he drove the "zero car" at the Ulster Rally in 2012. Peugeot Sport has confirmed 56 orders for the Peugeot 208 R2 across 14 countries, including one unit destined for Ireland later this month. Tipperary man, Andrew Slattery, will run the car in six events here in Ireland in 2013.
