Irish man, Craig Breen, has been confirmed as the new Peugeot Sport Factory Rally Driver for 2013 of the European Rally Championship (ERC). The Waterford native will begin his eight-race campaign at the Rally Liepaja-Ventspils in Latvia on February 1 behind the wheel of a Peugeot 207 S2000, a car Breen has successfully campaigned in many Intercontinental Rally Championship (IRC) events.
The 2012 Super World Rally Champion (who knew there were so many different championships?) will use the season as a development one ahead of the launch of the all-new Peugeot 208 Type R2, which will arrive in the ERC in late 2013.
On the announcement from Peugeot Sport, Craig Breen said, "This is incredible and beyond my dreams. I am really excited to work with a manufacturer like Peugeot Sport."
Under his new Peugeot Sport partnership, Breen will take his place alongside Jérémi Ancian and Stéphane Lefebvre at a new Peugeot Sport Rally Academy. Breen has already contributed to the development of the Peugeot 208 R2, and he drove the "zero car" at the Ulster Rally in 2012.
Peugeot Sport has confirmed 56 orders for the Peugeot 208 R2 across 14 countries, including one unit destined for Ireland later this month. Tipperary man, Andrew Slattery, will run the car in six events here in 2013.