Craig Breen
Breen at the 2018 Rally Sweden
Personal information
NationalityRepublic of Ireland Irish
Born(1990-02-02)2 February 1990
Waterford, Ireland
Died13 April 2023(2023-04-13) (aged 33)
Lobor, Croatia
World Rally Championship record
Active years2009–2012, 2014–2023
TeamsPeugeot Sport, Citroën, Hyundai, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
Rallies82
Championships0
Rally wins0
Podiums9
Stage wins35
Total points405
First rally2009 Rally de Portugal
Last rally2023 Rally Sweden

Craig Breen (2 February 1990 – 13 April 2023) was an Irish rally driver who last competed part time for the Hyundai team in the World Rally Championship (WRC). He won the 2012 Super 2000 WRC, scoring class wins in the Monte Carlo Rally, Wales Rally GB, Rally France and the Rally of Spain. Breen won the WRC Academy Cup in 2011, winning his first event at the 2011 Rallye Deutschland and sealing the championship with a win at Wales Rally GB. The Academy title going down to the last stage, with Breen and Estonian rally driver Egon Kaur ending the season, both on 111 points, Breen then won the title on count back of stage wins, 39 to 14. Breen won the 2021 Rentokil Historic Rally in Killarney, Kerry, Ireland in his BMW M3 E30.

Breen died on 13 April 2023 after a collision during a pre-event test ahead of the 2023 Croatia Rally.

Career

Craig was the son of Ray Breen, a national champion in Irish rallying. He began karting in 1999 in Ireland. He began rallying in 2007, combining it with karting commitments in Europe in 2008.[1]

In 2009, he made the full-time switch to rallying, competing in the Irish, British and International Fiesta Sporting Trophies, winning all three championships.[2] He also went on to win the Fiesta Sport Trophy International Shootout and was awarded a twelve month contract with M-Sport. For his achievements Breen was crowned Young Irish Rally Driver of the Year and received the Billy Coleman Award.[3]

In 2010, he debuted the Ford Fiesta S2000 in both British Rally Championship and the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. He took his first BRC victory on the 2010 Ulster Rally and went on to finish 2nd overall in the ITC. He also finished 17th overall in the car at the 2010 Rally Finland and 12th overall at Wales Rally GB.[4]

In 2011, Breen competed in the WRC Academy driving a Ford Fiesta R2. He won his first WRC event at the Rallye Deutschland[5] and his win at Wales Rally GB made him the inaugural WRC Academy Cup champion.[6]

Breen at the 2012 Rally Finland.

For 2012, Breen progressed to the S-WRC championship driving a Ford Fiesta S2000. He won the opening round at Monte Carlo and led the championship after the second round in Sweden.[7]

In June 2012, Breen's co-driver Gareth Roberts was killed in an accident during the Targa Florio Rally, the fifth round of the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.[8][9]

In Rally de Catalunya, in November, he won the Super 2000 world championship. At the end of the rally, a very emotional Breen declared "I'm a kid, I can't believe I've done this."[10]

In 2013, Breen and co-driver Paul Nagle were signed by Peugeot to lead their ERC campaign called 'Peugeot Rally Academy'. Breen was successful, achieving five podium places during the season, and eventually finishing 3rd overall, missing out on the runner-up spot by only four points. Midway during the season Nagle left the team to help out Volkswagen's Andreas Mikkelsen in the WRC; from the Rajd Polski onwards, Belgian Lara Vanneste became Breen's co-driver.[2]

Breen won his first ERC rally at the 2014 Acropolis Rally in Greece, driving a Peugeot 208 T16.[2]

Breen and co-driver Scott Martin won the 2015 Circuit of Ireland Rally which had been a long-time ambition of Craig's especially as this would be the 20th anniversary of his Rally Idol's Tarmac Championship win, that being Frank Meagher.[11]

He did a part-time campaign with the Citroën Total World Rally Team in 2016, achieving his maiden Special Stage win and an emotional first podium finish with third place at the 2016 Rally Finland.[12] He improved the result in 2018 by finishing second at the 2018 Rally Sweden.[13]

Breen joined Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT for two events in the 2019 WRC campaign,[14][15] remaining with the team on a part-time campaign through to the end of the 2021 WRC season.[16][17] In this period, he accomplished four podium finishes, including three second places.

In October 2021, it was announced that Breen would join M-Sport World Rally Team as their lead driver for the 2022 season. He joined Adrien Fourmaux and Gus Greensmith in competing at all 13 rounds, making it his first full-time WRC campaign.[18]

He achieved two podium finishes with the Ford Puma Rally1, with a second place in Italy and a third place on debut in Monte Carlo. Before the 2022 Rally Catalunya, James Fulton became Breen's new co-driver after his long-time co-driver Paul Nagle announced his retirement.[19]

Breen moved from M-Sport back to Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT for the 2023 World Rally Championship, again as a part-time driver for the Korean team.[20] He started his campaign in Sweden with a second place finish which saw him leading the rally for a considerable part of the event.[21] Unfortunately, Breen was killed in a crash during a test before Rally Croatia.[22]

Death

Breen died on 13 April 2023, aged 33, after a crash driving his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 rally car in a testing session for the 2023 Croatia Rally. The front left of his car collided with a pole on a road between Stari Golubovec and Lobor at 12:40 pm local time, fatally injuring him. Breen's co-driver James Fulton was uninjured.[23] Breen's funeral took place on 18 April 2023 at The Sacred Heart Church in Ferrybank.[24] Several members from the WRC family attended the funeral, including Fulton, Breen's former co-driver, Paul Nagle and Breen's teammates at Hyundai, Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo.[25][26]

On 17 April 2023, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile announced Breen's car number 42 would be retired from the rest of the 2023 season.[27]

Career results

WRC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos. Points
2009 Craig Breen Ford Fiesta ST IRE NOR CYP POR
25 		ARG ITA GRE POL FIN
26 		NC 0
Ford Fiesta R2 AUS ESP
36 		GBR
39
2010 Castrol Ford Team Türkiye Ford Fiesta SWE MEX JOR TUR
22 		NZL POR BUL NC 0
Craig Breen Ford Fiesta S2000 FIN
19 		GER JPN FRA ESP
Barwa Rally Team GBR
12
2011 Craig Breen Ford Fiesta S2000 SWE
15 		MEX POR JOR ITA ARG GRE FIN GER AUS FRA NC 0
PS Engineering ESP
15 		GBR
2012 Craig Breen Ford Fiesta S2000 MON
14 		SWE
16 		MEX POR
Ret 		ARG GRE NZL FIN
Ret 		GER GBR
13 		FRA
17 		ITA ESP
6 		17th 8
2014 Craig Breen Ford Fiesta RS WRC MON SWE
9 		MEX POR ARG ITA POL FIN
Ret 		GER AUS FRA ESP GBR 25th 2
2015 Saintéloc Junior Team Peugeot 208 T16 R5 MON
13 		SWE MEX ARG POR
Ret 		ITA POL FIN
Ret 		GER
18 		AUS FRA
17 		ESP
Ret 		GBR
13 		NC 0
2016 Abu Dhabi Total WRT Citroën DS3 WRC MON SWE
8 		MEX ARG POR ITA POL
7 		FIN
3 		GER CHN
C 		FRA
5 		ESP
10 		GBR
Ret 		AUS 10th 36
2017 Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroën DS3 WRC MON
5 		10th 64
Citroën C3 WRC SWE
5 		MEX FRA
5 		ARG
Ret 		POR
5 		ITA
25 		POL
11 		FIN
5 		GER
5 		ESP GBR
15 		AUS
Ret
2018 Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroën C3 WRC MON
9 		SWE
2 		MEX FRA ARG
Ret 		POR
7 		ITA
6 		FIN
8 		GER
7 		TUR
Ret 		GBR
4 		ESP
9 		AUS
7 		11th 67
2019 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC MON SWE MEX FRA ARG CHL POR ITA FIN
7 		GER TUR GBR
8 		ESP AUS
C 		14th 10
2020 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC MON SWE
7 		MEX EST
2 		TUR ITA MNZ 9th 25
2021 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC MON ARC
4 		CRO
8 		POR ITA KEN EST
2 		BEL
2 		GRE FIN
3 		ESP MNZ 8th 76
2022 M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Puma Rally1 MON
3 		SWE
36 		CRO
4 		POR
8 		ITA
2 		KEN
6 		EST
30 		FIN
32 		BEL
63 		GRE
5 		NZL
19 		ESP
9 		JPN
24 		7th 84
2023 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 MON SWE
2 		MEX CRO POR ITA KEN EST FIN GRE CHL EUR JPN 14th 19
Source:[4]

* Season still in progress.

SWRC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Points
2010 Barwa Rally Team Ford Fiesta S2000 SWE MEX JOR NZL POR FIN GER JPN FRA GBR
2 		12th 18
2011 PS Engineering Ford Fiesta S2000 MEX JOR ITA GRE FIN GER FRA ESP
4 		10th 12
2012 Craig Breen Ford Fiesta S2000 MON
1 		SWE
2 		POR
Ret 		NZL FIN
Ret 		GBR
1 		FRA
1 		ESP
1 		1st 118
Source:[4]

WRC Academy results

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos. Points
2011 Craig Breen POR
Ret 		ITA
8 		FIN
2 		GER
1 		FRA
Ret 		GBR
1 		1st 111
Source:[4]

WRC-2 results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos. Points
2015 Saintéloc Junior Team Peugeot 208 T16 R5 MON
2 		SWE MEX POR
Ret 		ARG ITA POL FIN
Ret 		GER
5 		AUS FRA
4 		ESP
Ret 		GBR
3 		9th 55
Source:[4]

IRC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos. Points
2011 Craig Breen Ford Fiesta S2000 MON CAN COR YAL YPR AZO ZLI
7 		MEC SAN SCO
4 		CYP 12th 24
2012 Saintéloc Racing Peugeot 207 S2000 AZO CAN IRL
5 		COR
6 		ITA
Ret 		YPR SMR ROM ZLI YAL SLI SAN
6 		CYP 14th 26
Source:[4]

ERC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points
2013 Sainteloc Peugeot Rally Academy Peugeot 207 S2000 JÄN LIE
2 		CAN
2 		3rd 145
Peugeot Rally Academy AZO
2 		COR
4 		YPR
3 		ROM CZE POL
7 		CRO SAN
Ret 		VAL
3
2014 Peugeot Rally Academy Peugeot 207 S2000 JÄN LIE
3 		3rd 104
Peugeot 208 T16 R5 GRE
1 		IRE
Ret 		AZO
Ret 		YPR
Ret 		EST CZE
Ret 		CYP
Ret 		ROM VAL
2 		COR
Ret
2015 Peugeot Rally Academy Peugeot 208 T16 R5 JÄN
Ret 		LIE
1 		IRE
1 		AZO
1 		YPR
Ret 		EST
Ret 		CZE
7 		CYP
 GRE
2 		VAL
2 		2nd 185
2016 DGM Sport Citroën DS3 R5 CAN IRE
1 		GRE AZO YPR EST POL ZLI LIE CYP 8th 38
2020 Team MRF Tyres Hyundai i20 R5 ITA
4 		LAT
4 		PRT
16 		HUN
Ret 		ESP
11 		7th 49
2021 Team MRF Tyres Hyundai i20 R5 POL
42 		LAT
2 		ITA
9 		CZE PRT1 PRT2 HUN ESP 10th 43
2023 Team Hyundai Portugal Hyundai i20 N Rally2 PRT
6 		ESP POL LAT SWE ITA CZE HUN 4th* 20
Source:[4]

* Season still in progress.

References

  1. ^ "World Rally Champ Star Dead at 33... After Test Drive Crash". TMZ. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Craig Breen". Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Craig Breen adds Fiesta Sport Trophy International series as an amazing fourth rally title in 2009!". RallyBuzz. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Craig Breen". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  5. ^ "WRC Academy wrap: Breen takes maiden win". WRC. 20 August 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  6. ^ "WRC Academy wrap: Breen wins title in thrilling finish". WRC. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  7. ^ "Breen reveals SWRC schedule". WRC. 18 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Statement following accident on stage eight". IRC Series. 16 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Craig Breen's co-driver Gareth Roberts dies in Targa Florio crash". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  10. ^ "S2000 WRC title winner Breen: I can't believe I've done it". Irish Examiner. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  11. ^ Walsh, Martin (13 April 2023). "Rally fans worldwide mourn the passing of Craig Breen". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Meeke wins record-breaking Finland". wrc.com. WRC. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Neuville Wins in Sweden". wrc.com. WRC. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Breen to drive for Hyundai in Finland". WRC - World Rally Championship. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Hyundai confirms Breen for Wales Rally GB". www.motorsport.com. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Eager Breen primed for Hyundai return". WRC - World Rally Championship. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Craig Breen Stays At Hyundai For 2021". 10 December 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Breen joins M-Sport Ford on two-year deal". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  19. ^ Evans, David (6 October 2022). "Who should replace Nagle as Breen's co-driver?". dirtfish.com. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  20. ^ ""Hyundai sign Breen and Lappi for 2023"". wrc.com. World Rally Championship. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Breen heads Tänak in Rally Sweden scuffle". WRC - World Rally Championship. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Irish rally driver Breen dies in testing accident". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  23. ^ Evans, David (13 April 2023). "Craig Breen passes away in testing accident". DirtFish. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  24. ^ Evans, David (13 April 2023). "Breen's funeral to take place on Tuesday". dirtfish.com. DirtFish. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Neuville set to contest Irish rally in Breen's honour". WRC. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  26. ^ Barry, Luke (18 April 2023). "How Croatia will pay tribute to Breen". dirtfish.com. DirtFish. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  27. ^ "Hyundai To pay tribute to Craig Breen with special livery for Croatia Rally". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.

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