World Rally Championship driver Craig Breen has died following crash testing for next week’s Rally Croatia.
The factory Hyundai driver went off the road during a team test on asphalt roads in Croatia today and succumbed to injuries but co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the crash.
The 33-year-old Irishman finished second at Rally Sweden in February which marked his first WRC start of the season.
Hyundai said in a statemenet that it was deeply saddened to confirm his death, adding, “Hyundai Motorsport sends its sincerest condolences to Craig’s family, friends and his many fans.”
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.
He has driven for Citroen, M-Sport and Hyundai.
