Craig Breen

A former kart racer, Breen lived up to his pre-season billing as one of the firm title favourites by winning the inaugural WRC Academy Cup crown in a dramatic final-round in Great Britain in 2011. With multiple successes in various one-make Ford Fiesta championships in 2009, Breen stepped up to Super 2000 machinery in 2010 only for a frustrating season to force a rethink. After being selected for the prestigious Pirelli Star Driver training scheme, Breen signed up to contest the WRC Academy and it proved a shrewd move when the hugely talented Irishman won the crown and the career incentive scholarship of 500,000 Euros on offer as first prize. Breen, who will combine his SWRC campaign in 2012 with selected national and international rallies, is set to complete the season with new co-driver Paul Nagle following the loss of close friend and former navigator Gareth Roberts in a crash on the Targa Florio Rally in Sicily in mid-June.