Irish duo Craig Breen and co-driver Paul Nagle will drive for the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team from next season as they have signed a two-year contract with the team.
Since the middle of the summer, there has been much speculation about whether Breen will leave Hyundai Motorsport where he has had the role of driving part-time in the third car that he has shared with the Spaniard Dani Sordo for a few seasons and now it is confirmed.
A few weeks ago, Breen tested the new Ford Puma Rally1 car around the forests of Cumbria, England, the car that will replace the long-running Fiesta chassis from the new year when the WRC era comes to an end and the class switches to hybrid technology.
But now after being in the shadows for a few seasons and proving that he is always fast and consisten, he has now managed to get a full-time contract and M-Sport has a strong self-confidence that the Irishman can have good chances to fight for the title.
“I am so happy and proud to be joining the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team with Paul by my side. It has been a long road for us in the World Rally Championship with many twists and turns but we have now been given a golden ticket to drive for the most prestigious marque in motorsport and fight for the World Rally Championship.” Breen said.
“Ford has always been very close to my heart as my career started in the Ford Fiesta R2 winning the Junior World Rally Championship, before winning the S2000 World Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta S2000. I love rallying, every nuance of the sport, but especially the history. To add my name to the list of drivers that have driven for Ford is a bit surreal, drivers like Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz. To have my name etched in the history books besides these greats is a huge privilege.
“Being a very proud Irish man, to drive for Ford is something even more special to me as Henry Ford’s father was born in Ireland before emigrating to America. The love and passion for the brand in Ireland is still huge to this day.
“I am humbled by the faith that Malcolm, Rich and everyone in the M-Sport team has shown in us. Now I really can’t wait to get to Casino Square, Monte Carlo for the opening round of the championship and do the blue oval proud!”
“I’m really excited to be involved with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team as we enter the new Hybrid era of the World Rally Championship. I have worked with many teams in my time in the WRC but always wanted to join the Ford family.” Nagle said.
“The team at M-Sport has a track record of producing some of the best rally cars and I’m sure 2022 will be no exception. Both Craig and I are hungry for victories and to fight for the World Rally Championship title, we will be giving it our very best.”
“I have known Craig since his first ever rally in an M-Sport car and got to know him more and more when he was competing in the ST championship and I was championship co-ordinator. We often joke about how we have both progressed our careers and where we find ourselves now, but it will be a pleasure and an honour to link up with him again to see what we can achieve at the highest level of the sport, for the next two seasons, in the most exciting era for WRC in a long time.” Richard Millener, Team Principal, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, added.
“I am very confident Craig and Paul can deliver the very best results for the team and I cannot wait to see them lining up for the start of the Monte Carlo Rally in only a few months’ time. Our goal now is to get both the lads comfortable in the team and give them all they need to help deliver the results with the new Puma. I cannot wait to get started, it is genuinely a really exciting time for not only me personally, but everyone involved in this adventure.”
