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Craig Breen of Ireland is pictured during a break at the 2nd stage of the Rally Sweden, second round of the FIA World Rally Championship on February 10, 2023 in Brattby, west of Umea, Sweden.
Irish rally driver Craig Breen, a World Rally Championship (WRC) star playing for Hyundai, has died in a crash during a pre-trial rally test in Croatia. The world rally champion was preparing for a rally the following week when he got into an accident wherein his car swerved off the road.
Hyundai Motorsports confirmed that the 33-year-old rally driver was killed after his car crashed. The devastating accident occurred amid his preparation for what was supposed to be his second rally for the season.
WRC Driver Craig Breen Dies in Crash
As per a report by DW, the vehicle that the Irish rally driver was riding suddenly went off the road, triggering a crash which, sad to say, killed the WRC star. Hyundai Motorsport confirmed the shocking incident in its recent statement, revealing that it happened during a "pre-event test for Croatia Rally."
The South Korean carmaker disclosed, "Driver Craig Breen today lost his life following an accident."
According to ABC Australia, the police are now investigating the accident that took the life of the world rally champion during the pre-trial rally test. The president of the Croatia Rally organizing committee, Daniel Šaškin, says that the vehicle of Green "[skid] off track," leading to the tragic accident.
Breen has been a regular at the World Rally Championships for over a decade. He started his WRC career in 2009 and has competed with various motorsport teams. And since then, the rally driver has brought home numerous titles not just on the national scene but also on the international podium.
After all, he is the son of a former Irish national rally champion Ray Breen, who was also highly regarded in the sport. Like father, like son, some say, as the WRC star successfully followed his father's footsteps.
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UMEA, SWEDEN - FEBRUARY 10: Craig Breen of Ireland and James Fulton of Ireland are competing with their Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid during Day Two of the FIA World Rally Championship Sweden on February 10, 2023 in Umea, Sweden.
Hyundai, FIA Mourns Breen's Death
Hyundai went on to send its "sincerest condolences" to the family of the world rally champion, as well as his friends and fans worldwide, who followed his impressive career in the WRC.
The governing body of world motorsport, FIA, also mourns the passing of Breen. In a tweet, the president of FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, "[extended] sincere condolences" to his family and peers. Rival teams of Hyundai motorsports paid tribute to the WRC star as well.
Meanwhile, Hyundai stated that the co-driver of Green, James Fulton, was safe from the crash, news aggregator MSN notes, citing Racer.com.The team says he "was unharmed in the incident that occurred just after midday local time."
Green previously figured in a car crash in 2012. Although he survived the accident, it took the life of his then co-driver Gareth Roberts.
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