Craig is Peugeot Sport Factory Driver

Craig Breen, from Waterford and Super World Rally Championship winner 2012, will race in eight European Rally Championship events this year and has landed the new Peugeot Sport Factory Rally Driver title.

Craig's first rally event for this year, competing in the colours of Peugeot Sport, will be at the Rally Liepaja-Ventspils, in Latvia from 1-3 February.

Craig (pictured) was Irish International Driver of the Year 2012 and has long been loyal to Peugeot.

He is already very familiar with the 207 Super 2000, having driven it during many IRC events. The Rallye du Var, France, formed a fitting 2012 finale for Craig in his Peugeot 207 Super 2000 when the newly crowned SWRC Champion showcased all his capabilities and climbed from 6th to size 3rd podium position.

Under his new Peugeot Sport partnership, Craig has been selected to take his place alongside two other young rally stars, Jérémi Ancian and Stéphane Lefebvre, at a new Peugeot Sport Rally Academy. When not competing, he will lead an intensive test programme for the new Peugeot 208 Type R5, destined for the ERC scene later this year.

He has also contributed to the development of the Peugeot 208 R2 (pictured above) and drove the 'zero car' at the Ulster Rally last year. Peugeot Sport has confirmed 56 orders for the Peugeot 208 R2 across 14 countries, including one unit destined for Ireland later this month for Tipperary man, Andrew Slattery who will run the car in six events here in Ireland this year.