Spain SWRC chance for Breen

Craig Breen will follow in the footsteps of WRC Academy rivals Yeray Lemes and Christian Riedemann when he steps up to Super 2000 machinery on RallyRACC-Rally de Espana later this month.

Breen, a WRC Academy Cup title contender, will switch from his WRC Academy-specification Ford Fiesta R2 to the Super 2000 version - an increase of 400cc - when he contests the Salou-based event from 20-23 October.

Not only will Breen, 21, compete in Spain in a Super 2000 car, he will also be eligible for Super 2000 World Rally Championship points after taking over PS Engineering’s registration, which is normally filled by Eyvind Brynildsen.

“I have been driving my Ford Fiesta S2000 on Tarmac and gravel events, and with the mixed surface layout in Spain I’m hoping that I can gauge my pace with the SWRC regulars,” said Breen, who will be co-driven by Gareth Roberts. “I just want to develop my speed and learn the event for future years, and if I can get close to the pace near the end of the event, I will be very happy.”

Lemes and Riedmann will pilot a brace of Skoda Fabia S2000s for Volkswagen Motorsport in Spain as part of the German make’s ongoing driver evaluation programme. Brynildsen, meanwhile, has been forced to stand down from the event due to budgetary constraints.