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

The team said co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the incident just after midday local time.

Motorsport.com reported that Breen’s car went off the road while the 33-year-old was preparing for next week’s rally, his second of the season.

A veteran of 81 WRC races, he took second place in February’s Rally of Sweden as he was alternating in Hyundai’s third car with Spaniard Dani Sordo this year.

Motorsport Ireland president Aiden Harper described Breen as “a world class driver and a world class person”. “The Irish motorsport community is numbed by this tragic news,” he said.

Eight-time world rally champion Sebastien Ogier said he was in deep shock. “I’m lost for words... Everyone loved Craig for his great Irish character and his enthusiasm for our sport,” said the Frenchman.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2023