By Sean Moriarty

Killarney World Rally Championship co-driver Paul Nagle is “hungry for victories" and is ready to “fight for the title” after signing a two-year deal with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team.

The Aghadoe man and his driver Craig Breen will lead the Cumbria-based squad for the next two seasons and at a pivotal time in the WRC as the sport enters a new Hybrid era.

The pair will drive the all-new Ford Puma Rally1 car, beginning with next January’s iconic Rallye Monte Carlo.

It will mark Breen’s first full assault on the championship, having being employed in the past on a part-time basis by Citroen and more recently Hyundai.

For Nagle, it will mark the return of a full-time seat in the series for the first time since 2017 when he partnered Tyrone’s Kris Meeke. The pair recorded five wins for Citroen in a three year period from 2015 to 2017.

Breen and Nagle have scored several WRC podiums together, including a well-earned third place on last weekend’s Rally Finland.

However, they were only on a part-time programme with Hyundai and the move this week to Ford will allow them to challenge for victories and have a shot at the overall title.

Nagle believes they have the potential to challenge for the sport’s greatest honour.

"I’m really excited to be involved with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team as we enter the new Hybrid era of the World Rally Championship. I have worked with many teams in my time in the WRC but always wanted to join the Ford family,” said Nagle.

“The team at M-Sport has a track record of producing some of the best rally cars and I’m sure 2022 will be no exception. Both Craig and I are hungry for victories and to fight for the World Rally Championship title, we will be giving it our very best.”

They will test their new car in Spain later this month, after which preparations will begin in earnest for the new season.