A real surprise name has been rumored as Esapekka Lapi’s team mate.
Esapekka Lapp is rumored for Hyundai. PDO
M-Sport Ford washed last fall by Craig Breen as the number one driver with a contract that also covers the 2023 season. In the first season of Rally1 hybrids, Breen’s pace has remained sluggish, even though at the beginning of the year he was even considered a dark horse for the championship.
Breen started his season by finishing third in the World Rally Championship in Monte Carlo, but since then the results have been poor.
Suspensions were recorded for the Irishman in Sweden, Kenya, Estonia, Finland, Belgium and New Zealand. Time after time, Breen has fallen into driving errors under intense pressure.
For M-Sport, Breen’s performances have been a bad setback. Old conker Sebastien Loeb has shown that the Ford Puma Rally1 car can fight for World Cup victories, but Breen’s balance so far is only two podium places and seventh place in the World Series.
According to the most extreme claims, the relationship between Breen and the team management has become inflamed, which is why the Irishman’s contract could expire at the end of this year.
The team dispels the rumours
Craig Breen is unconvinced at M-Sport Ford. PDO
In the rumours, Breen’s name has also been connected to Hyundai’s WRC team, which needs to hire two new drivers for next year. Italian Motorsport.com claimed in a story published late Thursday night that Breen was heading Esapekka Lapin like for Hyundai.
M-Sport Ford team manager Richard Miller however, denied claims that Breen would be shown the door at the end of the season.
– At the moment, we have no plans to make any changes. Of course, we cannot say that we are completely satisfied with his results this year, Millener told Iltalehte before the latest Hyundai claims.
– He knows what he is capable of, but this year he has not reached that level. The last rallies have been difficult for him, but hopefully he will be able to drive freely in the final race of the season.
The World Rally Championship season will be completed next week in Japan. Millener underlined that the cooperation between Breen and M-Sport would continue even after the asphalt race in Japan.
– He has a contract for next year, and we have no other plans. Of course, we would like to see a strong result from him in the last race.
Breen is competing in Japan for the first time with his new map reader of James Fulton with. Breen’s longtime confidant Paul Nagle ended his career in the previous race in Spain.
The World Rally Championship in Japan will be held from the 10th to the 13th. November.