Breen won't "re-invent the wheel" to get WRC 2022 back on track

The M-Sport driver began his first full-time season in the WRC this year on the front foot by scoring a third at January's Monte Carlo season opener behind the duelling part-time drivers Sebastien Loeb (M-Sport) and Sebastien Ogier (Toyota).

But Breen’s season has stuttered since then, most notably when he crashed out of Rally Sweden. The Irishman bounced back with a fourth in Croatia but was left frustrated after a combination of a puncture, poor team tyre choice and brake issue dropped him to eighth overall in Portugal last month.

Breen heads to Sardinia this weekend lying sixth in the championship, 72 points adrift of runaway leader Toyota's Kalle Rovanpera, but only four points behind third-placed Takamoto Katsuta.

Although frustrated by his recent results, Breen doesn’t feel a radical change of approach is needed having shown glimpses of strong pace.

“It was difficult [in Portugal]," Breen told Autosport.

“There were not too many positives at all. We had a problem with the car pretty much all day Sunday, it's frustrating.

"There was some good speed at times. Friday was exceptionally good and we were right in the fight, so I was pleased. But things out of our control let it slip.

“I don’t need to re-invent the wheel. The speed is there, it's just a case of finding a bit more luck.

Craig Breen, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team

Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images

"For sure, we made some bad decisions on tyre choice on Saturday and I think without that the rally could have been a lot different for us. It put us on the back foot all of the time.

“We don’t need to do anything crazy, we just need to try and prepare for the rally a little bit better.

“I don’t have so much experience at these events, so I wasn’t as prepared in some situations with the tyre choice and we just need to rectify that for Sardinia.”

M-Sport team principal Rich Millener acknowledged Rally Portugal was a difficult event for the team that extended its run of events without a podium since Monte Carlo.

Reflecting on Breen’s performances, Millener says there is no extra pressure from the team to deliver and is hopeful the Irishman can extract a stronger result in Sardinia.

“It was not what we wanted as an overall result, but again over the course of the Portugal weekend everybody did some good times and good splits,” Millener told Autosport.

“The best thing is Sardinia is not far away, so we can regroup and try and get to where we know we can be. We hope Craig can pick up the pace a bit.

“It was difficult weekend in Portugal, but we need to be a bit faster and I’m sure that will be something he is working on for Sardinia.

“He has got to fight his own inner gremlins if he is struggling a little bit. We have got a car that is fast enough and we have given him an opportunity, and we are not putting any pressure on him.

Craig Breen, Paul Nagle, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“He has got to take the pressure off himself and start driving and delivering. It is frustrating for a team that we are not where we want to be, but it is more frustrating for him. We want to see him do what we know he can do.

“He will inherit a better road position for Sardinia and championship-wise he is only a few points off third which is not a disaster.

“There are still opportunities and we know he can do it, he just needs to get in that sweet spot and it will be fine for the rest of the season.”