Irish rally driver Craig Breen has tragically lost his life following an accident during testing. The 31-year-old, who had competed in the World Rally Championship and was a regular on the Irish rally scene, was reportedly testing ahead of the upcoming West Cork Rally when the incident occurred. His death has shocked the motorsport community, with many paying tribute to his talent and infectious personality.
Irish rally car driver Craig Breen has tragically died after an accident which occurred during a pre-event test ahead of the Croatia Rally. Hyundai Motorsport, Breen’s team, made the announcement on Thursday, but provided very little information about the incident. The team extended their condolences to Breen’s family and fans, adding that co-driver James Fulton had managed to escape unscathed. Breen had competed in 82 World Rally Championship (WRC) events and had finished second in his last race at Rally Sweden in February. Although he never won a WRC race, the Irishman achieved six second-place finishes during his career.
Breen, whose father Ray was also a rally driver, began his racing career driving go-karts before switching to rally driving full time in 2009. He achieved tremendous success and was named Ireland’s Young Driver of the Year in 2009 before going on to become a regular on the WRC circuit. The World Rally Championship expressed shock and sadness at the news and extended their condolences to Breen’s family and friends. The Irish motorsport community were also left devastated by the news of Breen’s passing. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of motorsport’s governing body FIA, paid tribute to Breen on Twitter saying that “our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and the Rally community at this difficult time”.
The world of rallying has lost one of its brightest stars following the news of Craig Breen’s untimely passing. He will be remembered not only for his exceptional driving skills and numerous triumphs on the track but also for his infectious spirit and unwavering commitment to the sport. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time. Craig Breen may be gone, but his legacy lives on as an inspiration to aspiring rally drivers around the world.
