Craig Breen faces tough defence of Circuit title

Waterford’s Craig Breen (26) will defend his Circuit of Ireland title against opposition that includes European Rally Champion and last year’s event runner-up Kajetan Kajetanowicz along with former triple British rally champion Keith Cronin and Ulster driver Alastair Fisher.

The entry list announced earlier this week is dominated by the new generation R5 and S2000 cars.

It is particularly pleasing for rally director Bobby Willis. “It is incredible how the rally has grown over the past few years, from the dark days of less than a decade ago, to become one of the iconic events of Europe again. I’m especially thrilled with the strength and breadth of this year’s entry.”

Last year Breen achieved his childhood dream and clasped the magnificent Ulster Automobile Trophy against the backdrop of the Titanic Quarter in Belfast after bringing his Peugeot 208 T16 to victory in a nail-biting finish — first with Robert Barrable (Ford Fiesta) and subsequently with Kajetanowicz.

The Waterford driver, currently with the Abu Dhabi Citroen outfit, will drive a DGM (David Greer Motorsport) prepared Citroen DS3R5 on this year’s rally with support from Lakeland Tyres. “My World Championship programme takes preference this year but the Circuit of Ireland is very close to my heart and I wanted to come back and try to win it again,” said Breen.

Alexey Lukyanuk, leader of this year’s ERC series, is also Belfast bound along with British Championship leader Elfyn Evans also in a Fiesta R5. Much will be made of the battle between Breen and Cronin, the latter has taken maximum points in both of the opening two rounds of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship.

Opting to register for the ERC – at an additional cost of €3,000 Cronin (No. 5) unlike Josh and Sam the Moffett, Stephen Wright and Desi Henry and many other ITC drivers should benefit from the higher seeding – Josh Moffett is seeded at 39.

“I spoke to a number of people and they recommended that I should enter under the ERC banner so as to benefit from the seeding position and the tv coverage,” said Cronin.

Indeed there was strong criticism of the TROA about the divide but the ERC rules are quite specific and the TROA are powerless to make any significant change. The likes of Cronin and Fisher and others that have opted to register for the ERC are eligible to win the prize money (€7,000 for top ERC driver) and of course will also be guaranteed television coverage on Eurosport. Competitors from some twenty different countries will be taking part.

Following the ERC, ITC and BRC contenders Derek McGarrity (Ford Fiesta WRC) will head the entry for the National Rally that is a round of the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Championship.

The sector, restricted to 60 crews is oversubscribed with Willis admitting that they had received close to double that amount.