BREEN LANDS HYUNDAI CHANCE FOR RALLY GB
Irishman will get his hands on an i20 for UK’S showpiece World Rally round
Craig Breen has targeted a maiden Rally GB podium when he returns to the Hyundai team in Wales next month.
As predicted by Motorsport News last month, the Irishman was confirmed as part of the South Korean manufacturer’s squad for the Llandudno-based event on Monday. He will join Thierry Neuville and
Andreas Mikkelsen.
Breen, who returns to the i20 for a day-long test in Wales in the middle of the month, admitted he was delighted to be back at the series’ sharp end for the nearest thing to his home round.
“Wales is a rally that’s always been close to my heart,” said Breen. “It’s an event I know well. I had a really good run there last year, when we were right in the hunt for the lead for much of the rally. I would love to find that rhythm again and build on that [fourth place] we achieved and I would desperately love to be on the podium next month. A result like that would be perfect but, at the same time, I have to remember that I’m there to do a job for Hyundai at what is really a crucial time for the team.”
On his debut with Hyundai in Finland last month, Breen ran fifth for much of the rally and came within a tenth of a second of a maiden scratch time in an i20. He achieved his stated objective of being asked to slow down by the team, when he pulled over to let Neuville past on the final afternoon of the Jyvaskylabased event.
“Finland was good, but I want to look to push on again from that in Wales,” said Breen. “I’ll be that bit more familiar with the car and, having watched the onboards from last year’s event, it’s clear to see the team’s made progress with the car.
“Obviously my only reference with the car is Finland, when the team had done some work to it, but I’d say it really should suit the stages in Wales. Our performance will, inevitably, be dependent on the weather. If it’s wet, it’s going to be difficult from our place on the road [further down the start order] on the first day.”
While Mikkelsen remains in a factory i20 Coupe WRC for the next two rounds in Turkey and Wales, he will be benched for a third time this season at Rally Spain. Hyundai will run Neuville, Dani Sordo and last year’s winner in Salou Sebastien Loeb at the final European round of 2019.