BREEN SPEAKS OUT
CITRO EN’S IRISH STAR READY TO STEP UP
Craig Breen says he won’t let the upheaval at Citroen Racing – and Kris Meeke’s departure – detract from his efforts at this week’s Rally Italy.
This week’s Alghero-based event is the first since Citroen rocked rallying with the sacking of the five-time event winner following his crash on Rally Portugal. Breen worked closely with his fellow Emerald Islander since the partnership came together at the start of 2016.
Breen will work with Mads Ostberg in Sardinia this week, while a long-term replacement for Meeke is considered. Citroen team principal Pierre Budar has already told MN the Breen-ostberg alliance could be one solution for the remainder of the season.
Breen admitted the decision to drop Meeke took him by surprise.
“It’s sad that it’s happened,” Breen said, “but the simple fact is that it’s happened and we have to work with it. Nothing has or will detract from my determination to succeed. What’s happened has happened in the team, it sounds harsh, but it’s not my decision. I’ll do what I’ve always done, keep my head down, work hard and stay focused on the task in hand. And this week that task is to score the best possible result for the team in Italy.”
Budar told MN last week that the loss of Meeke could have implications for the immediate development and pre-event set-up work for the team. Breen agreed with his boss, adding: “Kris had so much experience of the car and these events and the conditions. Of course it’s going to be more difficult coming to these rallies without that experience – he was a constant reference. Like I said, this is the time for the team to stand up and do the job. For me it has to be business as usual, no distractions.”
Breen knows he’s landed a tricky event to start as team leader for the first time, he’s only competed on Sardinia twice before and retired from the opening leg with an oil leak aboard his C3 WRC 12 months ago. “I’ve got to be completely honest and say this isn’t one of my favourite rallies of the year,” said Breen. “That said, the car has come such a long way since we were here last season – it was fantastic in Portugal and that feeling was there in the test as well. The good thing for me is that I start Friday eighth on the road and that’s something I can look to use to my advantage. And, the route for the event hasn’t changed significantly since last season, so the pacenotes Scott [Martin, co-driver] and I made last year will be a great base this week.” Citroen carried out its pre-event test in Spain rather than Sardinia last week, but Breen was on the Italian island early for some development running in Citroen’s C3 R5. “I hadn’t driven the R5 car since October last year,” said Breen, “and the team was keen to get my feedback on how the car had progressed since then. I have to say, it felt fantastic. We were on a typically nadgery, tight and twisty road and it was so nice to drive.
“I was really pleased to be out in the R5 car again, but it was also a bit of a bonus for me to get the chance to drive in ‘stage’ mode in Sardinia so close to the event. The test was fine, but these roads here are quite specific in terms of speed and surface and I’m really glad of the opportunity to be driving just days before we start the rally.”
Sardinia might not be one of Breen’s favourites, but his team-mate Ostberg is a big fan of Europe’s hottest and hardest WRC round.
“I’ve always been quick here,” said the Norwegian, who has started the event 10 times previously – finishing second in 2014. “I worked hard on the set-up for the car at the last rally in Portugal and during the test. I like this rally and I want to make the most of this chance. For whatever reason, there is a seat going for the rest of the year and I will do everything I can to prove to the team that I am ready for that.”