Irish rally driver Craig Breen dies in crash in Croatia

Irish rally driver Craig Breen has died following an accident during a pre-test event in Croatia.

Breen's co-driver, James Fulton, was unharmed in the incident that occurred shortly after midday local time.

Breen (33) from Ferrybank in Waterford was Ireland’s top rally driver, competing with the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship, who he rejoined this season after a period with Ford M-Sport. He finished second at the recent Rally Sweden.

Hyundai Motorsport confirmed the news in a statement this afternoon.

Statement from Hyundai Motorsport pic.twitter.com/GLNXbphVQW

— hmsgofficial (@HMSGOfficial) April 13, 2023

Motorsport Ireland President Aiden Harper said: “The Irish motorsport community is numbed by this tragic news. Craig was a world-class driver and a world-class person. To Craig’s family, his parents Ray and Jackie, his sister Kellie, brother-in-law Darragh and nephew Bobbie, I wish to extend my deepest condolences and all our thoughts remain with Craig’s co-driver James Fulton. May they all find the strength and support they need at this unimaginably tragic time.”

Steeped in rallying through his father Ray, Breen started out as a top class karter before taking up rallying in 2008.

In 2009 he made his World Rally Championship debut, finishing 25th in Rally Portugal. That same year he was crowned Irish National Junior Rally Champion and won the Billy Coleman Award, the youngest driver to do so.

In 2011 he won the WRC Academy series, followed a year later with a win at the Super 2000 World Rally Championship, despite the tragic death of his long time co-driver and friend Gareth Roberts during the season.

In 2013 he joined Peugeot and he stayed there for three seasons winning four