IRISH RALLY DRIVER Craig Breen has been laid to rest following his funeral mass this afternoon in Waterford.
The 33-year-old died last Thursday during the pre-event test ahead of Rally Croatia later this month.
The accident occurred near the northern town of Zlatar after the “driver’s car slid off a road and hit a wooden pole,” Croatian police said in a statement.
Co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the incident.
Craig Breen’s requiem Mass took place earlier this afternoon at the Sacred Heart Church in Ferrybank, Waterford.
“Treasured son of Jackie and Ray, he will be sadly missed by his heartbroken sister Kellie, brother-in-law Darragh and his godson Bobbie, along with his extended family, cherished friends and all his motorsport family,” his death notice reads.
At his funeral mass today, parish priest Father Kieran O’Shea remarked that “the darkness came so suddenly and became so widespread so quickly, enveloping so many friends and fans and people who has followed Craig’s achievements for so many years”.
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His sister Kellie Breen recalled her childhood memories of her brother.
“Craig was the cutest child; placid, easy-going, all he wanted was to play with something that had wheels.
“His school yearbook said that he wanted to make people proud. Well Craig, I can safely say, mission accomplished.”
Kellie added: “He’d much rather see people share good times and relive fond memories.”
‘Model competitor’
Hailed as “a world class driver and a world class person” and “a model competitor”, Craig Breen was renowned as Ireland’s top rally driver.
Breen made his WRC debut as a teenager in 2009 and quickly rose to prominence, winning the €500,000 top prize at the WRC Academy championship in 2011 and the Super 2000 World Rally Championship (SWRC) in 2012.
Craig Breen was more than just a driver; he had a passion for rallying that ran deep. He will be immensely missed both on and off the world's rally stages.
These are just some of the highlights from his time with us at Hyundai Motorsport. pic.twitter.com/123yi5oXJ3
He got his first taste of top-tier WRC racing with Ford Fiesta in 2014, and later joined Citroën where he claimed his first podium finish when third at Rally Finland in 2016, before going on to spells with Hyundai and M-Sport Ford.
He rejoined Hyundai ahead of the 2023 season, and equalled his career-best performance when he finished second at Rally Sweden last month.
“Whenever he got the chance, Craig still continued to compete on local events in Ireland and in recent months, support younger drivers.
“Earlier this year a sponsorship deal was announced that would see him directly supporting the Junior 1000 category within the Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship and as recently as last Tuesday, he attended a J1000 tuition day where 18 young drivers got to meet and learn from their hero.
“There was no greater advocate for Irish motorsport.”
With reporting by Niall Kelly.
Written by Hayley Halpin and posted on TheJournal.ie
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'He wanted to make people proud': Irish rally driver Craig Breen laid to rest in Waterford
LAST UPDATE | 18 Apr 2023
IRISH RALLY DRIVER Craig Breen has been laid to rest following his funeral mass this afternoon in Waterford.
The 33-year-old died last Thursday during the pre-event test ahead of Rally Croatia later this month.
The accident occurred near the northern town of Zlatar after the “driver’s car slid off a road and hit a wooden pole,” Croatian police said in a statement.
Co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the incident.
Craig Breen’s requiem Mass took place earlier this afternoon at the Sacred Heart Church in Ferrybank, Waterford.
“Treasured son of Jackie and Ray, he will be sadly missed by his heartbroken sister Kellie, brother-in-law Darragh and his godson Bobbie, along with his extended family, cherished friends and all his motorsport family,” his death notice reads.
At his funeral mass today, parish priest Father Kieran O’Shea remarked that “the darkness came so suddenly and became so widespread so quickly, enveloping so many friends and fans and people who has followed Craig’s achievements for so many years”.
His sister Kellie Breen recalled her childhood memories of her brother.
“Craig was the cutest child; placid, easy-going, all he wanted was to play with something that had wheels.
“His school yearbook said that he wanted to make people proud. Well Craig, I can safely say, mission accomplished.”
Kellie added: “He’d much rather see people share good times and relive fond memories.”
‘Model competitor’
Hailed as “a world class driver and a world class person” and “a model competitor”, Craig Breen was renowned as Ireland’s top rally driver.
Breen made his WRC debut as a teenager in 2009 and quickly rose to prominence, winning the €500,000 top prize at the WRC Academy championship in 2011 and the Super 2000 World Rally Championship (SWRC) in 2012.
He got his first taste of top-tier WRC racing with Ford Fiesta in 2014, and later joined Citroën where he claimed his first podium finish when third at Rally Finland in 2016, before going on to spells with Hyundai and M-Sport Ford.
He rejoined Hyundai ahead of the 2023 season, and equalled his career-best performance when he finished second at Rally Sweden last month.
Motorsport Ireland described Breen as “a model competitor”.
“Whenever he got the chance, Craig still continued to compete on local events in Ireland and in recent months, support younger drivers.
“Earlier this year a sponsorship deal was announced that would see him directly supporting the Junior 1000 category within the Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship and as recently as last Tuesday, he attended a J1000 tuition day where 18 young drivers got to meet and learn from their hero.
“There was no greater advocate for Irish motorsport.”
With reporting by Niall Kelly.
Written by Hayley Halpin and posted on TheJournal.ie
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Craig Breen Funeral RIP