Carrick on Suir Motor Club and Young Rally Driver of the Year Honoured by Mayoral Reception Breen Rallying Unveil New Fiesta S2000 Event Photos: http://www.rallyprint.com/gallery/?level=album&id=109 Launch Video Footage (RTE Television): http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1065318 Footage sequence starts at 17 minutes 37 seconds 29th January 2010 Tipperary, A new chapter was written in the Rallying career of Craig Breen as he and his home Motor Club were honoured by a Mayoral Reception hosted by Councilor Silvia Cooney Sheehan in the Town Hall, Carrick on Suir and was attended by a wide number of invited guests, Motorsport fans, Sponsors and officials. Councilor Silvia Cooney-Sheehan in her ceremony speech, reflected on the success of the Club over the passed fifty years, it’s foundation in 1958 and the way Motorsport has evolved over that time. She was also delighted to recognise the outstanding achievements of club member Craig Breen during the 2009 rallying season. In his ceremony speech George Clancy the President of the Carrick on Suir Motor Club, spoke about how the club was first founded and his delight of the club now reaching fifty two years in existence. He went on the say “As member of the club, being club chairman and now club president I have always treated Motorsport as a sport, a way to enjoy ones self in the company of others. It gives me great pleasure as not only the club is being recognised here today but one of our most outstanding young members Craig Breen. I have known and am a friend with the Breen family for many years. Craig’s Dad Ray is a former National Tarmac and Forestry Champion and was well able to handle a rally car, but now I think his son Craig has taken over and even at his tender age would give his Dad a run for his money. I can remember Craig from the age of thirteen or fourteen, when on event days he would come to the office and always ask what kind of competition can I enter today George? Over the passed twelve months he has astounded all of us with his results and he is now about to embark on his second full season of rallying I wish him all the best.” The 2009 Young Rally Driver of the Year and mutable championship winner also used the occasion to unveil his newly purchased Ford Fiesta S2000 and announce a major new sponsorship contract with Kick Energy, Pirelli, Castrol, and Suirway Forklifts. In attendance at today’s event were Ford of Europe Motorsport Director, Cork born Gerard T Quinn, and M-Sports Commercial Director John Steele. Gerard Quinn mentioned during his ceremony speech “Craig is a young man with a great future in rallying and we are delighted that he has chosen our new Ford Fiesta S2000. “The new car is hugely important for Ford as it is our first global rally car and it is the first car to embody the sleek kinetic design features of Ford’s road cars”. Also attending the launch of Craig’s new S2000 was M-Sports Commercial Director John Steele. “Craig has put Irish Rallying back on the map and now as he enters his second year of full time rallying it’s wonderful to see such great support for him. His family are fully behind him and he has a very professional team.” The President of Motorsport Ireland Joe Corcoran stated “It’s great to be part of this day; I’m delighted to have been invited and be part of the launch and Mayoral reception.” Co-developed between Ford Motor Company and its rally partner, M-Sport, in Cumbria, England, the Ford Fiesta S2000 was launched in November 2009 was victorious on its World debut at the 2010 Monte Carlo Rally only a Week ago. Craig will debut the S2000 on Irish soil next weekend at the Galway International Rally, the opening round of the 2010 Irish Tarmac Championship. The Craig Breen Rallying Team also released news of Craig’s events calendar for the 2010 season. After a very successful year in 2009 Craig will campaign the Fiesta S2000 in the 2010 Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the 2010 MSA British Rally Championship and selected rounds of the World Rally Championship. At the launch Craig was delighted to announce the team’s new sponsorship package for 2010. “Over the Christmas period my P.R. team and I worked hard on putting a proposal together that would attract a major corporate sponsor. This work really paid off during the last few weeks and now Breen Rallying are very privileged to release such an illustrious team as partners. Kick Energy: Words from Tara Sutherland, Export Manager, Global Brands, Kick Energy. “Kick Energy is very excited with the prospect of this new partnership with Craig and Breen Rallying. Craig has had a very impressive debut year in 2009 and starting today he enters the next phase of his career. Together with Breen Rallying, M-Sport, his other sponsors and the new Ford Fiesta S2000 we can see a very successful future for both Craig and Kick Energy” Pirelli: Words from Pirelli’s Motorsports and Events Manager Martin Pallot: “We're delighted to be able to work with another young rallying talent. Craig has already shown great potential and with the programme planned for 2010 we can only seeing him and the Team going from strength to strength.” Craig is lucky to have a Team around him that have already proved themselves as professionals - both within Ireland and the British Championship. With the additional backing of M-Sport and with the New Ford Fiesta S2000 and Pirelli Tyres we are hopeful of some great results this year. Just last weekend the S2000 Fiesta had its first International Rally Victory - On this event Pirelli only had one Official entry (on the Monte Carlo Rally) and with the help of Mikko Hirvonen and Ford we achieved the best possible result. In the same weekend the S2000 Fiesta had its second International Victory in the Middle East with Nasser Al Attiyha - again on Pirelli Tyres. To work with a Team, Driver and Car which is clearly able to produce such results is always a pleasure. Time in the car is key - driving a S2000 car is very different from what Craig is used too - however with the programme he has defined he will be getting lots of "seat" time. Both ITC and BRC will be competitive with a number of S2000 cars and the Group N cars with the larger restrictors and more power - it will be a close and interesting fight which I’m sure Craig is more than capable of handling. Castrol Ireland: Words from Castrol Ireland’s Business Development Manager Bill Lennon: Castrol Have a long heritage in Motorsport and particularly with rallying. The company will be backing Craig and the Breen team all the way and our hope is that we have a successful partnership together.” Suirway Forklifts: Words from Suirway Forklifts Managing Director James Coleman: We are delighted to be in a position to provide some financial assistance to Craig and Breen Rallying in their 2010 campaign and we have no doubt it will be a good investment going on his proven short but phenomenal record. It was not just that which impressed us but his entire focus, commitment and personality. In a nutshell we are proud to know and be associated with Craig and his family. Craig Breen Rallying: Craig Breen Rallying Manager Ray Breen: I as team manager and Craig’s Dad am very proud of what he as achieved to date. Craig together with the team had brilliant year in 2009 with victory in three Fiesta championships, the National Junior Rally Championship here in Ireland, being announced the young rally driver of the year, winning the Billy Coleman Award and then to cap it all off to win the Fiesta International Shootout was just fantastic. As the 2009 season began to come to a close Jackie my Wife, Craig and I decided to take the next step and purchase a fiesta S2000. It’s a big step and will be a learning process but one we are now delighted to take with our new line up of sponsors. Tom Gahan (Tom Gahan Motorsport): Words from Tom being interview by Alan Tyndall: Alan: Hello Tom, Being here in Carrick on Suir we must mention Frank Meagher? Tom: “Yes Frank was a Tipperary man and a Rallying Hero in these parts.” Alan: “What do you think of this young man Craig Breen? Tom: “Craig has had a fantastic year; he is a very good driver and can only get better with more experience. He is very hungry for success and he wants to reach the top of the sport, together with his co driver Gareth Roberts as a crew they just have one goal and that’s to win” Alan: Talk to me about the new Car, the Fiesta S2000? Tom: “I travelled over to M-Sport in the UK earlier this week to collect the new car and was very impressed by the design. The car has already been victories on its world debut in Monte Carlo only a week ago and we hope that will continue for us this season”. Launch of the Craig Breen Supporters Club: Billy Collins and Don Butler: “With Craig’s success in 2009 and support for him coming from fare and wide the idea of setting up a supporters club sprang to mind and a few of us got together and have now put the structure in place for the Craig Breen Supporters Club. During the 2010 season we will provide members with up to date information on Craig during events with stage by stage results by text message, nightly reports from events and videos. There will be a range of merchandise including clothing etc in the future.” | 
