Craig Breen secures Citroen works seat in World Rally Championship

Craig Breen has become the first ever Republic of Ireland driver to secure a works seat in the World Rally Championship.

Alongside Tyrone driver Kris Meeke, Breen and Stephane Lefebvre will spearhead Citroen’s return to next year’s Championship in the new C3 WRC.

Meeke and his Killarney co-driver Paul Nagle were already confirmed to drive for the team, but yesterday Citroen Racing announced that Waterford’s Craig Breen and his British co-driver Scott Martin and French pair Stephane Lefebvre/Gabin Moreau will also drive for the French outfit for the next two seasons.

In addition, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi will also be competing in some events next year and will be co-driven by Antrim’s Chris Patterson. It’s a massive boost for Breen and the realisation of a lifelong ambition.

The team will use two cars at the start of the season — one for Meeke with Breen and Lefebvre alternating driving duties in the other car. A decision as to who will drive on the various rounds will be made a later stage but Citroen will start entering three cars as soon as possible.

Breen impressed in the rally programme of the PSA Group and competing this season for the Abu Dhabi Total WRT, his third place finish in Finland is the highlight so far. The former Billy Coleman Young Driver of the Year award winner is heavily involved in the test programme for the new Citroen C3 WRC.

His selection and that of Lefebvre is in keeping with Citroen’s long-held policy of identifying and developing talented young rally drivers. In the past, they have included Sebastien Loeb, Sebastien Ogier, Dani Sordo and Thierry Neuville.

Meeke, Breen, Lefebvre and Al Qassimi will continue to test the C3 WRC until the car completes homologation. In the meantime, Meeke and Breen will campaign the DS3 WRC in this month’s Rally de Espana and Wales Rally GB.