The FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) received another boost to its status as one of the premier international rally championships with news that 30-year-old Irishman Craig Breen and co-driver Paul Nagle will contest the series for Team MRF Tyres in a BRC Racing Team-prepared Hyundai i20 R5.
With 61 World Rally Championship (WRC) starts to this name, Breen is an accomplished driver with vast experience in R5 machinery, and should be one of the favourite drivers for the ERC championship honours.
Team MRF, backed by an Indian tyre manufacturer, is no stranger to international rallying, winning no less than nine FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship titles. The squad spent 2019 testing and developing MRF Tyres with Breen and former WRC driver Mikko Hirvonen to prepare for an onslaught on the international scene once again.
Breen said: “I am really happy to start this adventure with MRF Tyres. We worked together last year placing emphasis on tyre development. Now I am really looking forward to embarking on this journey in the European Rally Championship. It will be a great adventure to get back to some rallies I have done in the past along with some new rallies. It will be a great year with MRF Tyres, BRC Racing Team and Hyundai Motorsport. I am looking forward to the Azores Rally and getting the program started.”
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal, Andrea Adamo said: “I am really looking forward to seeing the results of this new partnership between MRF Tyres and the BRC Racing Team. The European Rally Championship is one of the most important series in the sport. The season includes some very famous events, and is a great test for the cars, and for the tyres in all conditions. MRF Tyres has already had great success in rallying, establishing themselves as very competitive option for drivers and teams. Hopefully this season between them, BRC and the Hyundai i20 R5, they can add more to their story in motorsport.”
2020 ERC calendar:
Round 1: Azores Rallye (gravel), March 26-28
Round 2: Rally Islas Canarias (asphalt), May 7-9
Round 3: Rally Liepâja (Latvia, gravel), May 29-31
Round 4: 77th Rally Poland (gravel), June 26-28
Round 5: Rally di Roma Capitale (asphalt), July 24-26
Round 6: Barum Czech Rally ZlÃn (asphalt), August 28-30
Round 7: Cyprus Rally (gravel), October 9-11
Round 8: Rally Hungary (asphalt), November 6-8
