Breen attempts to make history and win trophy named after co-driver Nagle’s father
Craig Breen and Paul Nagle could make history this weekend with victory on the Killarney Historic
Rally by becoming the first crew to win the Killarney International Rally and its historic namesake in the same season.
The Irish Tarmac champions will take on the event in a Viking Motorsport-prepared Ford Escort Mk2.
Seeded number two, they will run behind last year’s winners Owen Murphy and Anthony Nestor for the event, which comprises eight stages.
Breen told Motorsport News: “Of course I would like to try and win the rally if I can but it is going to be difficult. I’ve never driven this car before.
“I have done bits and pieces in modified Escorts a good few years ago now, but it is going to be a whole new ball game getting used to an historic car and learning how it works on Irish roads.
“It would be great to do the double.
I’m not sure if it has been done before but we’ll be giving it our best shot.”
New for 2019 is the Maurice Nagle Perpetual Cup, named after the brainchild of the Killarney Historic Rally and father of Paul, who passed away last December after a battle with illness.
“This was the second reason [why we put the deal together],” said Breen. “This is the first year of the Maurice Nagle Cup for Paul’s father and we want to do our best to try and win it.
“The Killarney Historic Rally is getting bigger and bigger every year. I think it’s the end-of-season sign off.
“The stages here are obviously second to none. They are absolutely incredible roads and getting the chance to drive up Moll’s Gap come hail, rain or shine you take it with two hands.”