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Craig Breen determined to prove worth on Citroen WRC debut

Rally Sweden will be about showing improvement rather than outright speed for PH Sport Citroen debutant Craig Breen

After testing the Abu Dhabi-branded DS 3 WRC for the first time on Monday, Breen told Autosport he was relaxed about the week ahead.

"I now have to grab this chance and show that I deserve my place among the elite," he said.

"My aim is to keep improving throughout the rally, not to push like crazy on the first stage.

"I have a lot to learn and I'll have other opportunities to show my speed.

"If I finish in the top six, that would be a fantastic result."

The 26-year-old, who already has two World Rally Championship class titles to his name having taken the WRC Academy and Super 2000 WRC crowns in 2011 and '12, endured challenging conditions for his first run in a factory-specification World Rally Car.

"The test road we're using is changing every half an hour; the gravel's coming through and ripping the studs out of the tyres, so we're not getting as many runs as we might be," Breen said.

"But I can deal with all of that when I'm sitting in this car!"

Breen, who will be co-driven by Cumbrian Scott Martin, admitted his position in one of the world's leading rally teams was still taking some getting used to.

"This really is a childhood dream," Breen said.

"I've been thinking about this moment since I was a little boy and to have it coming true is just incredible.

"But it's just the start, I know I've got plenty of work ahead of me to make the next step - but thanks to everybody at Abu Dhabi and Citroen for giving me the chance to show what I'm capable of."

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