Nine is just fine for Peugeot Erc star Breen

Breen chased ERC success with Peugeot in 2014, scoring a debut win for the 208 T16 on the Acropolis Rally in Greece and landing podiums on Rally Liepāja and Rallye International du Valais. Co-driven by Scott Martin, the Irishman will tackle nine rounds of the 2015 ERC starting with next month’s Internationale Jännerrallye powered by GaGa Energy in Austria (4-6 January).

Under new rules for 2015, crews count their best seven scores from 10 events. Currently, Breen and Martin will not include September’s Cyprus Rally on their schedule.

“I’m delighted to be continuing with Peugeot Sport in 2015 when our priority will be the ERC title,” said Breen, 24. “Last year wasn’t easy. We were down on luck and it was the 208 T16’s debut season but now all the ingredients are in place. The car combines speed and reliability and I know the team well, since this will be my third year as part of the official line-up. It’s going to be an exciting but busy year because my programme also includes, with Peugeot Sport support, seven WRC2 outings in the 208 T16 with the same team.”

Charles Martin’s programme will consist of four ERC events, plus two rallies in his native France, as part of his prize for winning the French 208 Rally Cup. He follows in the wheel tracks of Kevin Abbring, who claimed the one-make title in 2013 to earn an ERC campaign with Peugeot Rally Academy the following season. Martin, 25, will compete in Northern Ireland, Açores, Czech Republic and Greece.

Meanwhile, Stéphane Lefebvre, who won the inaugural ERC Junior title in a Peugeot Rally Academy 208 R2, will be rewarded with a prize drive on the Geko Ypres Rally in a 208 T16.

Portugual’s Diogo Gago, 23, will also carry the colours of the Peugeot Rally Academy when he contests the 2015 ERC Junior Championship in a 208 R2. His prize is four rounds of the young-driver series although to boost his chances of taking the coveted title – and the prize drive in a 208 T16 on the ERC season-closing Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse, Gago will contest the two additional ERC Junior rounds with a private entry.

Saintéloc Racing will again oversee the Peugeot Rally Academy entries in the ERC.