Breen ready for the big time in Monte Carlo
The “Monte” returns to the WRC after a three-year absence during which time it reverted to a less restricted format as a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Having secured the Academy title in dramatic and pressurised circumstances on Rally GB last November, Breen moves up a gear to the Super 2000 category of the WRC.
The opposition will be much tougher, including French ace, Sebastien Ogier in a Skoda Fabia S2000, another highly rated Frenchman Bryan Bouffier (Peugeot S207) and Giandomenico Basso (Proto Satria).
The S2000 series is a natural progression for Breen and with the €500,000 boost from the Academy win, it allows him tackle a full season although he has decided to skip the New Zealand round, purely for logistical reasons.
He said, “I’m moving to full-time four-wheel drive rallying in a car that I’ve used on selected events during 2011. There’s bound to be a learning curve but I’m looking forward to the challenge. The drivers I’ll be up against in thechampionship are also a step up from the Academy, but this is what it’s all about.
“I’ll probably be the youngest taking part in the SWRC but I’m eager to advance and prove myself. I’ll also be hoping to use the knowledge I gained from the Academy workshops in my preparation for each event and I’m sure it’s now that this kind of experience will benefit me.”
In addition to his WRC campaign, Breen announced he will also incorporate four other events into his 2012 schedule. The Circuit of Ireland Rally, round three of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the Tour de Corse in May and the Ypres Rally (June) also rounds of the IRC have been added to the list.
Breen will also tackle Rally Bohemia in the Czech Republic, a counter towards the FIA European Rally Cup.
After concluding some testing and a three-day reconnaissance for the Monte, Breen remarked: “We put up about 70 kilometres on Thursday and another 80 on Friday both in daylight and also waiting until darkness. The test stage itself was very representative of what we’ll come up against on the rally, mountain roads, with cliff faces on one side and huge drops on the other and corner after corner.
“I can say without doubt, this is the most intensive reconnaissance I’ve ever undertaken. Our pacenotes on every event must be very precise, but here on the mountain roads we are adding about 40 to 50% more information than on another rally, and even then I’m second guessing myself.”
Meanwhile, Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3) embarks on his bid to win a 10th world title and will be supported by Mikko Hirvonen, while the Ford challenge is spearheaded by Finland’s Jari Matti Latvala, joined this season by Petter Solberg and his Irish co-driver, Chris Patterson.
The Mini WRC takes part in the Monte for the first time with Dani Sordo, but the disappointment continues for Kris Meeke, his place taken by paying driver, Pierr Campana. Wexford’s Eamonn Boland and his Waterford co-driver, Mickey Joe Morrissey (Mitsubishi), are seeded at number 27. Today’s action is over four stages totalling some 135 stage kilometres.
Organisers of next month’s Galway International Rally have confirmed that former Irish Tarmac champion, Gareth MacHale (Ford Focus WRC), will compete in their event. His last outing was on the Cork “20” International Rally in 2010.
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