Breen was complementing his WRC third driver commitments for the Hyundai manufacturing facility squad by operating the Portuguese nationwide collection for the Hyundai Portugal squad in an i20 N Rally 2 automotive.
Following Breen’s tragic passing in preparation for final weekend’s WRC spherical in Croatia, the Hyundai Portugal squad has now confirmed it’s going to proceed to subject two automobiles within the championship with Meeke to honour Breen on the vacant seat.
Breen had received the opening spherical of the nationwide championship in Fafe final month, which additionally acted as a spherical of the European Rally Championship.
“When the invitation got here up, I used to be a bit skeptical, the whole lot felt too quickly after the passing of an in depth buddy,” mentioned Meeke.
“My choice was not taken evenly. Firstly I accepted as a result of its my want to compete in rally, however I additionally thought of what Craig would inform me, and I do know he would inform me to just accept.
“That is how I will honour him. I’ll proceed to compete as he at all times did, to win and to get pleasure from it.”
Kris Meeke, Sebastian Marshall, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC
Picture by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
Meeke will contest his first drive for Hyundai Portugal at this weekend’s Rali Terras d’Aboboreira and is ready to begin the next spherical of the championship which options as a category on the WRC Rally Portugal occasion subsequent month. Meeke is at the moment contesting the recce for this weekend’s rally, which additionally varieties the second spherical of the third-tier FIA European Rally Trophy.
The Northern Irishman, who was Breen’s WRC team-mate from 2016-2018 when the pair drove for the semi-works after which manufacturing facility Citroen squad.
Meeke’s final rally begin arrived on the Qatar Worldwide Rally final yr, the place he drove a Skoda Fabia Rally2 alongside co-driver Chris Patterson.
Since stepping away from the WRC on the finish of 2019, the previous manufacturing facility Toyota, and Citroen driver has been a check driver for Skoda, serving to to develop its Fabia Rally2 automotive.
The Hyundai WRC staff is but to decide relating to who will share the third entry alongside Dani Sordo for the remaining rounds of the WRC season. Sordo had already been confirmed to take part within the subsequent WRC spherical in Portugal in Might.