Irish driver Craig Breen, a Hyundai team racer, died this Thursday at the age of 33 following a training accident for Rally Croatia in the north of the country. Local authorities have reported that one rally participant lost their life in the incident, while the identity of the victim has not been released publicly by the police. Early details from authorities indicate that the left side of the car’s front end struck a wooden pole, causing fatal injuries to Breen. The co-driver sustained no serious harm.
Hyundai Motorsport issued a brief statement on social media confirming the tragedy.
The crash happened at 10:40 GMT along the route between the towns of Stari Golubovac and Lobor, during the Croatian Rally tests scheduled to run from April 20 to 23. Breen had been active in both the World Rally Championship and the European Championship, highlighting his versatility across major continental series.
Earlier in his career, Breen achieved notable results across rally events. In the 2022 season, he finished fourth in Rally Croatia and concluded the year seventh in the World Rally Championship standings, underscoring his consistent presence among the sport’s top competitors.
Breens’s passing is being mourned by colleagues, teams, and fans across the rally community. His leadership on the stage and his steady drive helped shape competitive performance in both the World and European championships, earning him respect from rivals and supporters alike. As the sport processes this loss, teams are focusing on honoring Breen’s contributions and ensuring ongoing safety for competitors during rally events. Details about the investigation and any formal memorial arrangements are expected to be released by the appropriate authorities in due course.