Breen ready for the big time in Monte Carlo

THE performance of reigning World Rally Academy champion, Craig Breen, will be monitored closely on the Monte Carlo Rally, the opening round of the World Rally Championship that begins today.

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).