File image of World Rally Championship driver Craig Breen, who was killed in an accident on April 13, 2023, throughout a take a look at occasion in Croatia
| Photo Credit: AP
Rally driver Craig Breen was killed in an accident Thursday throughout a take a look at occasion forward of a World Championship Race in Croatia, his crew mentioned.
Police had been investigating the complete circumstances of the 33-year-old Irish driver’s loss of life, which was attributed to “skidding off track,” Daniel Šaškin, president of the organizing committee of the Croatia Rally, mentioned at a information convention.
Hyundai Motorsport mentioned it was “deeply saddened to confirm” Breen’s loss of life “following an accident during the pre-event test” for the Croatia Rally.
“Co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the incident that occurred just after midday local time,” the team said in a statement. “Hyundai Motorsport sends its sincerest condolences to Craig’s family, friends and his many fans. Hyundai Motorsport will make no further comment at this time.”
Breen had competed in World Rally Championship occasions since 2009 for numerous groups. The occasion in Croatia was scheduled to begin subsequent week.
“On behalf of the FIA, I want to lengthen our honest condolences to the household and associates of Craig Breen following his passing throughout a personal testing accident in Croatia,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of governing body FIA. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and the entire Rally community at this difficult time.”
Breen was the son of a former Irish national rally champion and began his career in karting. He won several rally titles at various levels of national and international competitions, and was a regular podium finisher in the World Rally Championship. In 2012, he was involved in an accident at a rally in Italy in which his co-driver, Gareth Roberts, was killed.
“The Irish motorsport community is numbed by this tragic news,” Motorsport Ireland president Aidan Harper mentioned in a press release. “Craig was a world class driver and a world class individual.”
