Craig Breen was an Irish rally driver who competed part-time in the World Rally Championship (WRC) for the Hyundai team. He won the Super 2000 WRC in 2012 and class wins at Rally Monte Carlo, Rally GB Wales, Rally France and Rally Spain. Breen won the WRC Academy Cup in 2011, won his first race in Rally Deutschland and won the championship in Wales Rally GB.
Breen died on 13 April 2023 after an accident during a pre-event test, ahead of the 2023 Croatia Rally.
Craig Breen Personal Life
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.
Craig Breen Career
Craig was the son of Irish national rally champion Ray Breen. He started karting in 1999 in Ireland. He started rallying in 2007 and combined it with racing in Europe in 2008. In 2011, Breen competed in the WRC Academy driving a Ford Fiesta R2.
He won his first WRC race at the Rallye Deutschland, and victory at Rally Wales made him the first WRC Academy Cup champion. In 2013, Peugeot signed Breen and rally driver Paul Nagle to run their ERC campaign called “Peugeot Rally Academy”. Breen earned five podiums during the season and ended up finishing third overall, just four points out of second place.
In 2016, he campaigned part-time with the Citroën Total World Rally Team, taking his first stage win and an emotional first podium in third place at the 2016 Rally of Finland. He improved on his 2018 result by finishing second at the 2018 Rally Sweden.
In October 2021, it was announced that Breen would join the M-Sport World Rally Team as their frontman for the 2022 season. He competed against Adrien Fourmaux and Gus Greensmith in all 13 rounds.
Ahead of the 2022 Rally de Catalunya, James Fulton became Breen’s new card reader after his long-time card reader Paul Nagle announced his retirement. With Breen moving from M-Sport to Hyundai Shell, Mobis WRT has been confirmed to compete in the 2023 World Rally Championship.
Craig Breen Family
Craig Breen was born in Slieverue, Ireland to his parents; Ray Breen (father) and Jackie Breen (mother). His father was a national champion in Irish rallying.
Craig Breen’s parents live their lives away from the spotlight, hence information regarding their date of birth, ages, and occupation was not available at the time of this writing.
However, reports say the late rally driver is not the only child of his parents. He grew up together with his sister, Kellie Breen.
Craig Breen Wife
Craig Breen was not married and hence did not have a wife. He hardly shared information regarding his private affairs hence there are no records of his love life and past relationships.
Craig Breen Net Worth
Before Craig Breen died in an accident during a pre-event test, he had an estimated net worth of about $12 million. He had made such an amount from his profession as a rally driver.
Cause of Death
World Rally Championship Driver Craig Breen Dies in A Crash At 33
On 13 April 2023, aged 33, Breen was killed in an accident driving his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 rally car during testing for the 2023 Rally Croatia. The left front of his car hit a pole on the road between Stari Golubovec and Lobor at 12:40 local time, and he was fatally injured. Breen surveyor James Fulton was not injured.
Craig Breen Instagram Account
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Bio/Wiki
| Profession | Irish rally driver |
| Full name | Craig Breen |
| Nick name | Craig Breen |
| Date of birth | February 2, 1990 |
| Age on 2023 | 33 Years |
| Birth place | Waterford, Ireland |
| Nationality | Ireland |
| Race/ Ethnicity | Unknown |
| Gender | Male |
| Religion | —- |
| Zodiac | Aquarius |
| Height | —- |
| Weight | —- |
| Net worth (approx) | $100,000 – $1M |
| Death : 13 April 2023 (aged 33), Lobor, Croatia
Cause of Death : Accident in Croatia |
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Craig Breen Education
| Education | |
| High School | —- |
| College | —- |
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