Fresh from scooping the International Driver of the Year Award at the Motorsport Ireland/Sport Ireland annual awards, Craig Breen has outlined his hopes and dreams for 2018, when he will feature in the Citroen team as they make a full-time return to the World Rally Championship.
The Waterford driver caught the eye of top brass at Citroen after a number of impressive performances this season, most notably when finishing third behind Kris Meeke at Rally Finland.
Meeke will be an even more familiar figure for Breen next year, as the two men will be Citroen team-mates.
Breen also won the International Driver of the Year Award in 2012 and reflecting on his latest success on RTÉ 2fm’s Game On, told listeners: “It’s a great honour to win it again.
“This year has been exceptionally good to us, exceptionally fruitful shall we say.
“I’ve taken a big step in the World Championship, into the top level of the sport, and it’s been a real life-changing year.”
Breen believes his move to Citroen on a two-year deal will allow him to progress to the next level in the sport, and said; “That was what we were chasing, I suppose. For the last number of years, since I started my career, was to get a drive in the World Championship.
“This has now given me a chance to fulfil my dream, my true dream, which is to win the World Rally Championship.”
The 26-year-old has become the first driver from the Republic of Ireland to land a drive in the World Rally Championship and he believes that his success can prove a spur for all those with dreams to drive in the ultra competitive WRC.
“These opportunities are so few and far between,” he admitted.
“There was - until the withdrawal of VW - 15 places at this level in the World Rally Championship.
“To be the first Irish driver to get one of those places is something that I’m hugely proud of.
“It speaks a lot for the development programmes that we have in the country and if you stick at it, and keep your head down and do the right things, we can do it. We’re a small island but anything is possible when you put your mind to it.”
Breen has lofty aspiration for the year ahead, but is determined to savour every moment the season offers.
“I would love to try and fight for a victory at some point,” he said.
“Number one, and most importantly, is to enjoy it and relish every single second.
“Every morning when the alarm goes off, that there’s a spring in my step jumping into this World Rally car.
“I want to have a smile on my face from 1 January to 31 December, that’s the most important thing.”
