The racing community is left devastated after Craig Breen dies in a practice rally in Croatia. The tragedy was later confirmed by Breen’s team Hyundai. However, Breen’s co-driver, James Fulton came out of the accident unscathed. The incident took place right before the WRC Croatia Rally, which is set to take place between April 20-23.
Craig Breen was born on February 2, 1990, in the Slieverue region of Ireland. He was the son of Ray Breen, who was an Irish national champion in rallying. Although he started rallying in 2007, Craig got his start in go-kart racing. While Breen did not win a championship, he did manage to finish second in 2023’s Sweden rally. Breen also had a brief stint with M-Sport Ford before returning to Hyundai.
RIP Craig Breen (via Reuters) pic.twitter.com/vqRPP6I41v
— Mean Machine (@grandpakhabib) April 14, 2023
Motorsport Ireland President, Aiden Harper, has also expressed his grief after losing one of the nation’s own in the aforementioned testing rally in Croatia. He added, “The Irish motorsport community is numbed by this tragic news. Craig was a world class driver and a world class person.”
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According to statements from Croatian police, the accident took place as Breen’s car veered off the track and hit a wooden pole. However, there are no further statements on whether there were any mechanical faults or the cause of death.
Craig Breen previously had a crash in 2022
Motorsports always have an element of risk and there are preventative measures in place to minimize accidents. However, tragedies do happen and there have been a number of fatal crashes in rally racing over the years. In 2005, British racer Michael Park died in a crash at Wales Rally GB. The following year in 2006, German driver, Jorg Bastuck also passed away in a fatal accident at Rally Catalunya.
Craig Breen himself had a horrific crash at the Ypres rally in August 2022. Upon taking a sharp turn, Craig’s vehicle flipped over and seemingly caught on fire. However, Craig and his co-driver Paul Nagle survived without taking much damage. But the crash did not keep him away from the racing track for too long as Breen reunited with Hyundai after spending the 2022 season with M-Sport Ford.
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He even finished in the second spot in the Swedish rally earlier in February 2023 along with James Fulton. The duo was seemingly set for a great run, but Breen’s unfortunate passing put an end to it. After finishing in a podium spot at the beginning of the 2023 season, Craig sounded optimistic for the future and seemed to have shaken off the troubled times of the previous year.
“Don’t let anyone ever put you down, because only you know your true potential.
The people close to me know it and finally we managed to get it back out again…”
– Craig Breen ❤️
1990-2023
📹 x @OfficialWRC pic.twitter.com/gkCrXHrjHz
— Autosport (@autosport) April 13, 2023
He added, “We’re happy. Obviously, it’s been an incredible weekend, I don’t know why I’m tearing up now! But it’s just been great to be back at the front again you know? It’s been such a horrible, horrible black space where I was last year and don’t let anyone ever put you down, because only you know your true potential. The people close to me know it and finally, we managed to get it back out again, so I’m just so happy to be back fighting at the front again with this amazing team, amazing car.”
Although Craig Breen never managed to get a championship win, the 33-year-old did finish 2nd on four separate occasions and on 3rd on three separate occasions. His smiling face and positive influence will surely be missed.