By Emre Asikci
ISTANBUL (AA) - Rally driver Craig Breen was killed in a tragic accident Thursday during a pre-trial event test in Croatia ahead of a world championship race. He was 33.
“WRC Promoter is deeply saddened to learn that Craig Breen sadly passed away earlier today (Thursday) on a Croatia Rally pre-event test,” Hyundai Shell Mobis World said in a statement.
"At this sad time, the thoughts of the WRC family are with the loved ones of Craig. WRC Promoter expresses its sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues," it added.
Breen won the junior WRC Academy Series in 2011 and the WRC's Super 2000 series in 2012.
The Irish driver scored class wins in the Monte Carlo Rally, Wales Rally GB, Rally France and the Rally of Spain.
Breen was sixth with 19 points in the driver standings this season as he came second in the 2023 Rally Sweden, also known as the Swedish Rally 2023.