The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team are ending their contractual agreement with Waterford's Craig Breen a year early following an amicable decision between the parties.
Breen seems certain to stay in the World Rally Championship with a return to Hyundai on the cards where he would join Thierry Neuville, Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo. It’s likely his move will be confirmed in the coming days.
Whether the 32-year-old will be full time with the Korean manufacturers remains to be seen.
Breen and co-driver Paul Nagle had been chosen to lead the team this season following a string of promising performances that M-Sport felt warranted a full-time drive, and the British-based squad had high hopes of securing a first FIA WRC victory with the Irishman this year
However, Breen returned just two podiums and stage-winning performances on snow, gravel and asphalt that culminated with a Power Stage victory on his final outing with the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 in Japan. That proved that the potential with the car was there, according to an M-Sport statement
Despite a good start to the campaign, a series of crashes at the back end of the season and a lack of consistency prevented the results that the team had expected. As a result, a decision was taken to part ways as M-Sport seek a new team leader.
Nagle retired from the WRC after Rally Spain and was replaced by James Fulton for the last round in Japan which, unfortunately for Breen, ended in another crash and a 24th place finish.
Breen spent much of his early career with M-Sport – winning the FIA WRC Academy in 2011 before progressing to secure the S-WRC crown with the Fiesta S2000 in 2012 and making his world rally car debut with the Ford Fiesta RS WRC in 2014.
"I want to extend a big thank you to M-Sport and the whole team for everything they've done for me this year. It has been an important season as my first full-time drive and to complete that in a Puma has been fantastic," said Breen
"There have been a lot of fun times and laughs together on this albeit, short journey. M-Sport has a real family feel and it will be sad to leave that behind.
"It has been a great experience for me to be part of the team, but ultimately, it’s time to move on.
"I’m looking forward to the future and continuing to build my partnership with James and I wish the team all the best for next season."
