the irish pilot Craig Breenfrom the Hyundai team, died this Tuesday at the age of 33 in an accident during a recognition test of the next WRC World Cup race, the Croatian rallyscheduled from April 20 to 23.
“It is with deep sadness that Hyundai Motorsport confirms that driver Craig Breen lost his life in an accident during reconnaissance for Rally Croatia today.“Hyundai communicated in the official text.
About your co-pilot, James Fultonthey assured that “he came out unscathed from the accident suffered just after noon”, while they announced that they will not make “further comments for the moment”.
According to police sources, the vehicle collided with the left side of the front end against a wooden post and the pilot was killed instantlywhile the co-pilot suffered no serious injuries.
It was the first accident in which a person died. pilot behind the wheel of his car since 1989, when the Portuguese lost his life augusto mendes during the Rally de Portugal that year.
Since then, there had been fatal accidents but in which they died co-pilots: the French Francis Malaussene in Monte Carlo (1990), the New Zealander Rodger Freeth en Australia (1993), British Michael Park in Wales (2005) and the German Jörg Bastuck in Spain (2006).
Craig Breen’s career
From 2016 to present, Breen he conquered nine podiums in his careersix second places and three third places. The Irishman finished seventh in the World Cup in 2022 behind the podiums, Montecarlo (3rd) and Italia (2nd).
Breen competed in both the World Rally Championship and the European Championship. In July of last year he was the first leader of the Estonian Rally, the seventh round of the World Championship, by winning the only stage of the day, of only 1.66 km.
In it Rally Croatia 2022 he came in fourth place and at the end of the season he was seventh in the World Cup standings.
In February, he had achieved second place in the Swedish Rallythe second race of the season, last February, and was in sixth place in the standings ahead of the fourth test of 13 races.
Repercussions for the death of Craig Breen
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) was one of the first international associations in the field to rule on the death of the Irish pilot. “The president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayemextended his “heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Craig Breen after his death during a private test accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and the Rally community at this difficult time.”
Meanwhile, from the World Rally Championship They claimed to be “shocked” by the tragic news and sent their condolences to the family and friends of the pilot “in this incredibly sad moment”, while from Formula 1 sent “our thoughts and love to the family and friends of Craig Breen” in a post on Twitter.
