Rally driver Craig Breen dead at 33 after crash during pre-event test

Craig Breen, an Irish rally car driver who drove for Hyundai Motorsport, was killed in a pre-event check in Croatia, the crew stated in a press release on Thursday. Breen was 33.

Breen’s co-driver James Fulton was unhurt within the crash.

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Craig Breen and James Fulton in the course of the FIA ERC Rallye Serras De Fafe, in Fafe, Portugal, on March 10, 2023. (Bruno Penas Fernandez/NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs)

Breen, who drove within the World Rally Championship (WRC), went off the highway whereas he was making ready for the Croatia Rally occasion subsequent week, in accordance with Motorsport.com. His automobile reportedly struck a pole.

“Hyundai Motorsport is deeply saddened to verify that driver Craig Breen at this time misplaced his life following an accident in the course of the pre-event check for Croatia Rally,” the crew stated in a press release.

“Hyundai Motorsport sends its sincerest condolences to Craig’s household, buddies and his many followers.”

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Craig Breen and James Fulton compete with their Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid in the course of the FIA World Rally Championship on Feb. 10, 2023, in Umea, Sweden. (Massimo Bettiol/Getty Photographs)

WRC added individually: “At this unhappy time the ideas of the WRC household are with the family members of Craig. WRC Promoter expresses its honest condolences to his household, buddies and colleagues.”

Breen was sixth within the 2023 standings by three races.

He was the son of former champion Ray Breen and commenced his profession in racing with karting in Eire. He moved to rally driving in 2009. 

He had one championship, eight podiums and 30 stage wins throughout his WRC profession.

Craig Breen in the course of the second spherical of the FIA World Rally Championship on Feb. 9, 2023, in Hakmark, Sweden. (Micke Fransson/TT Information Company/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

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Breen’s WRC profile described him as “a charismatic Irishman who wears his coronary heart on his sleeve and has a penchant for delivering cracking one-liners to ready media.”