MRF Tyres mourns the death of Craig Breen, the 33-year Irish driver
Croatia, 13 April 2023: Popular and beloved Irish Rally driver Craig Breen died on 13 April 2023 at the age of 33 after a crash driving his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 rally car in a testing session for the 2023 Croatia Rally.
The front left wheel of his car collided with a pole on a road between Stari Golubovec and Lobour at 4.10 pm IST (12.40 pm local time) fatally injuring Breen. Breen’s co-driver James Fulton was uninjured.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem: “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. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and the entire Rally community at this difficult time.”
MRF Tyres Motorsports handle, with motorsports head Madhusudhan Rheinus, said: “MRF Tyres will always remember the start you gave us to our ERC journey. Rest in peace Craig (Breen), you will be missed.”
“The crash is being investigated by the team and the Croatian authorities, with the police confirming a fatal accident on that stretch of road at 12.40 pm local time,” said a dirtfish.com post.
INDIAinF1.com received a statement from Hyundai team as it prepared for the next week’s Croatia rally. It offered condolences to the family.
Statement from Hyundai Motorsport
April 13, 2023 – 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.
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.
MRF and Craig Breen
MRF and Craig Breen are associated for last year’s ERC campaign where MRF won the Overall Championship. You can watch Craig Breen here.
(Hear from Team #MRFTyres driver (late) Craig Breen after he took three stage wins in December 2022, a superb Sunday action of Rajd Polski at Rally Poland. It was the first FIA ERC gravel stage win for MRF Tyres. MRF also took second in Leg 2, proving the pace of the Indian-based company’s tyres.
MRF sends condolences to the family and friends of Craig Breen. We are shocked and deeply disturbed by the incident, said an MRF official. May his soul Rest In Peace (RIP), the official added.
A group of rally enthusiasts tweeted:
“Can’t believe it! This just isn’t right – you were a legend of a human being and a driver. The sport is poorer without you. RIP Craig and my wishes are with all your family at this devastating time,” said Hayden Paddon, the Kiwin who recently won the Otago Rally for the 10th time, on Facebook.
Daniel Raissar, a rally fan, raised serious questions: “Basically no one is talking about the safety of the cars, it didn’t look like an unsurvivable shunt. The plastic body and plexy glass don’t offer enough protection around the safety shell. There are very strong materials used in IndyCar windshields and metal does bend but doesn’t get penetrated so easily on impact. One can only speculate why saving weight decisions were taken at the top, WRC2 cars beating rally1 would not have been good marketing,” he said.
“It is a very sad, sad loss for the whole rally community. Time for FIA to look seriously in the mirror,” he concluded.
Rest in peace Craig.
Condolences to the family and friends.
Carlos Sainz: “Very sad to hear about Craig’s death. All my condolences to his family and friends. Today’s a sad day for the rally family.”
About Craig Breen
Craig was the son of Ray Breen, a national champion in Irish rallying. He bega Karting in 1999 in Ireland. He began rallying in 2007, combining it with karting commitments in Europe in 2008.
In 2009 he made the full-time switch to rallying, competing in the Irish, British and International Fiesta Sporting Trophies, winning all three championships. He also went on to win the Fiesta Sport Trophy International Shootout and was award a twelve-month contract with M-Sport. For his achievements, Breen has crowned Young Irish Rally Driver of the Year and received the Billy Coleman Award.
In 2010 he debuted the Ford Fiesta $2000 in both British Rally Championship and the Irish Tarmac Championship. He took his first BRC victory on the 2010 Ulster Rally and went on to finish 2nd overall in the ITC. He also finished 17th overall in the car at the 2010 Rally Finland and 12th overall at Wales Rally GB.
In 2011, Breen competed in the WRC Academy driving a Ford Fiesta R2. He won his first WRC event at the Rallye Deutschland and his win at Wales Rally GB made him the inaugural WRC Academy Cup champion. Breen at the 2012 Rally Finland.
For 2012, Breen progressed to the S-WRC championship driving a Ford Fiesta S2000. He won the opening round at Monte Carlo and led the championship after the second round in Sweden.
In June 2012, Breen’s co-driver Gareth Roberts was killed in an accident during the Targa Florio Rally, the fifth round of the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
In Rally de Catalunya, in November, he won the Super 2000 world championship. At the end of the rally, a very emotional Breen declared “I’m a kid, I can’t believe I’ve done this.”
In 2013, Breen and Co-driver Paul Nagle were signed by Peugeot to lead their ERC campaign called ‘Peugeot Rally Academy’. Breen was successful, achieving five podium places during the season, and eventually finishing 3rd overall, missing out on the runner-up spot by only four points. Midway through the season, Nagle left the team to help out Volkswagen’s Andreas Mikkelson in the WRC from the Rajd Polski onwards, Belgian Lara Vanneste became Breen’s co-driver.
Breen won his first ERC rally at the 2014 Acropolis Rally in Greece, driving a Peugeot 208 T16.
Breen and co-driver Scott Martin won the 2015 Circuit of Ireland Rally which had been a long-time ambition of Craig’s especially as this would be the 20th anniversary of his Rally Idol’s Tarmac Championship Win, that being Frank Meagher.
He did a part-time campaign with the Citroen Total World Rally Team in 2016, achieving his maiden Special Stage win and an emotional first podium finish with third place at the 2016 Rally Finland. He improved the result in 2018 by finishing second at the 2018 Rally Sweden.
In October 2021, it was announced that Breen would join M-Sport World Rally Team as their lead driver for the 2022 season. He joined Adrien Fourmax Adrien Fourmaux and Gus Greensmith in completing all 13 rounds.
Before the 2022 Rally Catalunya, James Fulton became Breen’s new co-driver after his long-time co-driver Paul Nagle announced his retirement. With Breen’s move from M-Sport to Hyundai Shell Mobis Mobis WRT is confirmed for the 2023 World Rally Championship… –Source Wikipedia
We stand with the family of Craig Breen, TEAM MRF TYRES and all the Rally Family in this hour of grief.
