Craig Breen and James Fulton to compete in Portuguese National Rally Championship alongside WRC duties
Hyundai WRC driver Craig Breen will return to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) this year, with the Irishman set to contest the season-opening Rally Serras de Fafe. Breen, who currently drives an i20 N Rally1 car for Hyundai in the World Rally Championship, will pilot an i20 N Rally2 at the opening round, which takes places from 10 - 12 March.
The car will be run under the Hyundai Portugal banner, with the outing forming part of a full Portuguese national championship programme which Breen will undertake in addition to his WRC commitments. Ricardo Teodósio - a three-time ERC stage-winner, will drive a second i20 for the team.
No stranger to ERC action, Breen used the series as a launchpad for his top-flight career. The 32-year-old has won five ERC rallies and finished inside the top three of the championship on three occasions. His last ERC start came at the 2021 Rally di Roma Capitale with Team MRF Tyres.
“I am very excited about this project,” enthused Breen, who will be co-driven by regular partner James Fulton. “It will be very challenging to compete simultaneously in both [the WRC and Portuguese] championships, and I feel very motivated to compete in Portugal with Team Hyundai Portugal.
“I'm going to begin my WRC season in Sweden, but I can't wait to be in Fafe,” he added.