Breen out to unsettle Andersson at home

World Rally S2000 Championship leader Craig Breen (Ford Fiesta S2000) seeks to consolidate his position in Rally Sweden, which gets under way in earnest this morning.

The Waterford driver made the perfect start in last month’s Monte Carlo event — and although he crashed out of a shakedown event in Norway last Saturday, he believes it was an important test.

“Brushing up on my snow and ice driving was important, getting used to grip levels and just driving in what is called ‘white out’, where the roads and ditches are totally covered in snow, takes time to adjust,” he said.

Breen, who finished 15th overall in Sweden last year, will renew rivalry with PG Andersson (Proton Satria), who will be on home territory.

Unlike in Monte Carlo, all the registered crews for the S-WRC will be taking part.

Breen said: “Facing a full complement of S-WRC competitors will be a challenge but that’s why I moved up to this series. PG Andersson is on his home event and will, I expect, set the pace. His teammate Alastair McRae will be eager to put up a good showing as will Hayden Paddon, who won the PWRC [Production Car World Championship] last year.”

Meanwhile, the Ford World Rally Team will bid to extend their winning knack on this particular event.

They have won the last five events and while last year’s winner Mikko Hirvonen has since departed to Citroen, the Blue Oval are confident Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala and Norway’s Petter Solberg will deliver the goods on Sunday.

Dani Sordo (MINI WRC) in the Prodrive-run car will only be able to score points in the drivers’ category following a decision earlier this week. The saga between BMW and Prodrive took a decisive turn with the announcement that WRC Team MINI Portugal will contest the remaining events of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship.

The role of Prodrive will be confined to construction and support. They will continue to work with the BMW Group on the further development of the car, however, they will be a works-supported private team.

The future of Irish pair Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle is very unclear.

Meanwhile, Solberg, who will be co-driven by Antrim’s Chris Patterson, will be familiar with this morning’s stages as the 37-year-old has a family home and hotel alongside one section.

“The farmhouse overlooks the special stage. I can stand at the door and see the road,” he said.! “The conditions are looking good for a fast, proper winter event. It’s fun to drive in such conditions and as the rally goes into Norway this year, it makes it even more special for me.” Irish pair, Eamonn Boland and MJ Morrissey (Mitsubishi) are also competing.

Motorsport Ireland has revamped the Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award scheme.

This season, Motorsport Ireland will select five bi-monthly winners (must be aged under 26) who will then be joined by the winner of the Junior Championship within the Dunlop National Rally Championship. The award will then be decided by a Motorsport Ireland panel with the winner receiving expert mentoring by Tom Walsh and €50,000 worth of support.

Nenagh’s Whitby Moynan will receive the overall award for 2011 at the awards ceremony in Waves Restaurant, Ballycotton tonight at 8pm. The new series begins in Clonakilty on Sunday week.