Citroen man Breen and Lefebvre head to head for the first time

Irishman Craig Breen and his Abu Dhabi Total World Rally team-mate Stephane Lefebvre will go head-to-head for the first time at this week’s Rally Poland.

Kris Meeke is not competing in Poland, leaving the duo to drive the semi-works DS 3 WRCS – and they both know a solid result would help in their pursuit of a full-time Citroen seat next year.

Breen, who made a point- scoring DS 3 WRC debut in Sweden earlier this year, said: “I don’t think this was ever planned as a showdown. Kris is busy testing the new car and this wasn’t one of the rallies Sheikh Khalid [Al Qassimi] was going to do.

“Even though it’s just circumstance, there is going to be a spotlight on Stephane and me. Only Kris is signed up for next year, there is going to be a seat there and everybody’s going to be watching to see how we get on. Do I take pressure from this? No, I’ve got to perform.”

Poland will be Breen’s first WRC gravel rally in a World Rally Car for almost two years.

“Maybe Stephane has done a good few more kilometres than me on gravel,” he said. “I did Sweden and maybe I was a victim of my own success [finishing eighth], where the conditions suited me. It was an environment where I could learn and learn quickly in the car, but Poland is so, so fast and you need so much confidence in the car straight away. I’m not going to use this as an excuse. I have to grab this with both hands and get the most out of it that I can. I’ve waited a lot of years for this opportunity and I intend to take it.”