Irish rally driver Craig Breen (33) dies after crash in Croatia

Irish world rally championship driver Craig Breen has died after a crash in a pre-event test in Croatia, Hyundai Motorsport said in a statement on Thursday.

The team gave no details of the crash just after midday local time but said co-driver James Fulton was unharmed.

Media reported that Breen’s car went off the road and collided with a pole while the 33-year-old from Slieverue in Co Kilkenny was preparing for next week’s rally, his second of the season.

A statement from his team read: “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.

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“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.”

A statement from the World Rally Championship said: “The WRC family is shocked and saddened to learn of Craig Breen’s passing.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Craig at this incredibly sad time.”

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, a former rally driver, said: “On behalf of the FIA, I extend 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 rally community at this difficult time.”

Motorsport Ireland president Aiden Harper said: “The Irish motorsport community is numbed by this tragic news. Craig was a world class driver and a world class person.”

The son of former Irish champion Ray Breen, Craig began his career in karting Ireland before moving into full-time rallying in 2009, when he won the International, British and Irish Fiesta Sporting Trophy titles and was crowned Ireland’s Young Driver of the Year.

The first driver from the Republic to compete in the World Rally Championship, Breen spoke about the dangers of the sport which saw him lose his good friend Thomas Maguire while navigating with Shane Buckley at the Donegal International in 2010 and his own co-driver Gareth Roberts in 2012.

During stage eight of the Targa Florio rally in Sicily, Breen’s Peugeot 207 began to understeer at a fast corner before crashing into a roadside barrier on a dirt track and a guardrail pierced the right side of the car, fatally injuring his 24-year-old co-driver.

Breen tweeted that “I have lost half of me” after the death of Roberts whom he described as being like a brother to him.

Although Breen later told the Irish Examiner that he accepted such risks were part of the sport – “it’s the nature of the beast” – he admitted that he did consider giving up rallying. But in what later described as “the hardest decision of my life”, he opted to return to the sport.

In Slieverue, local Fianna Fáil Cllr, Ger Frisby said that the news of Breen’s death had shocked the local community and they were still trying to come to terms with the tragedy as they sought to offer what support they could to his parents, Ray and Jackie and his sister.

“We only heard the news earlier, it’s shocking news, very sad. Craig was doing something he loved but it’s such a tragedy for his family. It’s very raw at the moment and hard enough to comprehend but all our thoughts and prayers are with them,” he said.