Hyundai WRC driver Craig Breen dies in Rally Croatia testing crash

World Rally Championship and Hyundai Motorsport driver Craig Breen on Tuesday died following a crash in testing for next week’s Rally Croatia.

In a brief statement made by his team- Hyundai Motorsport- on their official page, the company confirmed that Breen’s co-driver James Fulton was “unharmed in the incident that occurred just after midday local time.”

“Hyundai Motorsport is deeply saddened to confirm that driver Craig Breen today lost his life following an accident during the pre-event test for Croatia Rally," the statement read. “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 - Hyundai’s third driver- was repping up for what would have been his second appearance in the World Rally Championship this season after having made his 2023 debut in Rally Sweden in February - where he placed a career best second place position.

This was the second season Breen was racing for Hyundai after having featured for M-Sport-Ford last year - a car he used when he made his first appearance in Kenya’s Safari Rally leg in June 2022.

The 33 year old had a decent outing in the Kenyan terrain last season - finishing sixth overall in his Puma Rally 1 after running as high as fourth on the first full day of competition.

“I’d never been to Kenya before, but I’d watched all the videos of what this event is about and it was a real experience,” Breen told WRC after the event last year. “Being here in the country with these people and the atmosphere around the event has been great. It’s an incredible rally and country and I look forward to coming back.”

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also made a statement following the unfortunate news saying: “On behalf of the FIA, I extend sincere condolences to the family & friends of Craig Breen following his passing during a private testing accident in Croatia.

“Our thoughts & prayers are with his loved ones & the Rally community at this difficult time.”

Breen, the son of a rallying father Ray Breen, started his career in circuit racing but made a full-time switch to rallying in 2009.

After competing in the domestic British Rally Championship and Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in 2010, he progressed to the WRC the following season where he competed in the WRC Academy, becoming the inaugural Academy Cup winner.

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Hyundai acquired his services on a part-time basis from 2019-2021, during which he scored four podiums from nine rallies. Breen switched to M-Sport last year but made a return to Hyundai in 2023.

He scored 30 WRC stage wins and a total of nine podiums from 82 rallies.

Additional reporting from Motorsport.com.