Tributes pour in for 'pure gentleman' Craig Breen who died after crash in Croatia

Tributes have continued to be paid to Craig Breen, the World Rally Championship contender who died in a crash on Thursday while preparing for the Croatia Rally.

The 33-year-old from Slieverue outside Waterford city was a star competitor at many grades of motor-racing throughout his life, from the days when he first took part in karting and rallying.

Son of Jackie and Ray Breen, he was brought to races as a young child by his parents and the sport was in his blood as Ray himself was a former Irish rally champion.

He first cut his teeth in the world of motor-racing at the Kiltorcan Raceway near Ballyhale in south Kilkenny, as friends recalled today.

"Craig would have visited the track with his Dad from the age of eight, so we would have known him growing up," Anthony Holland said.

"Just a pure gentleman, always had a smile on his face, always willing to give encouragement to any drivers, young drivers, he gave back so much to the sport that he knew and loved and was so dedicated to."

In motorsport, you earn as much as you work, he added. "It definitely takes a certain individual as well, with talent, and Craig did show it from the eight years of age - lap times, getting consistent, all that stuff."

He described Craig's death as "very, very tragic" and said all in motorsport are feeling the loss.

"He touched so many people across all disciplines, all different areas, and we're all just very, very shocked."

Friend and fellow-member of Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club, of which Craig was a lifelong member, James Fogarty, said he met the champion through rallying.

"He used to drive [chairman] James's car and ever since then we formed a friendship... From an early age in karting he was good, he was always up at the front. When he started his