The motorsport industry is in mourning after the tragic death of rally driver Craig Breen on Thursday.
The 33-year-old was participating in a test event ahead of the world championship race in Croatia when he was killed in a driving accident.
The full circumstances of the 33-year-old Irish driver’s death were not immediately clear.
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Breen’s Hyundai Motorsport team confirmed the news in a statement.
“Hyundai Motorsport is deeply saddened to confirm that driver Craig Breen lost his life following an accident during the pre-event test for Croatia Rally,” the team said.
“Co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the incident that occurred just after midday local time. 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 has been a regular on the World Rally Championship circuit, competing since 2009 for various teams.
His achievements included nine WRC podiums, including six second-placed finishes.
Breen was the son of a former Irish national rally champion and began his career in karting. In 2012, he was involved in an accident at a rally in Italy in which his co-driver, Gareth Roberts, was killed.
The event in Croatia was scheduled to start next week.
Rally driving’s governing body FIA also released a statement offering its sympathy.
“On behalf of the FIA, I wish to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Craig Breen following his passing during a private testing accident in Croatia,” FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and the entire rally community at this difficult time.”
Motorsport Ireland president Aidan Harper also reflected on how Breen will be remembered.
“The Irish motorsport community is numbed by this tragic news,” he said in a statement.
“Craig was a world class driver and a world class person.”
— with AP
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