Professional rally driver Craig Breen was killed early yesterday, April 13, following an accident ahead of the Croatia Rally scheduled for next week. As of this writing, the race has not been canceled. Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed the tragic event.

"Hyundai Motorsport is deeply saddened to confirm that driver Craig Breen today lost his life following an accident during the pre-event test for Croatia Rally," the official statement says. "Co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the incident that occurred just after midday local time. "Hyundai Motorsport sends its sincerest condolences to Craig's family, friends and his many fans. Hyundai Motorsport will make no further comment at this time."

Details surrounding the crash remain unknown at this time. The 33-year-old Breen was a nine-time podium finisher in the World Rally Championship. Originally from Ireland, he was a lifelong fan of rally motorsport, which makes sense considering his father, Ray, was also a pro rally driver. In honor of Ireland's most successful rally driver in the WRC, this weekend's Moonraker Forestry Rally in Ireland has been postponed.

Like most professional drivers, the younger Breen began his career at an early age with cart racing and transitioned into rallying in 2007. Two years later, he won the International, British and Irish Fiesta Sporting Trophy titles. He was also named Ireland's Young Driver of the Year in 2009. In 2011 he became the FIA Junior WRC champion and continued his ascent.

One of his biggest moments came in 2016 when he became a factory driver for Citroen, and his winning streak continued. He went on to achieve 82 starts in the WRC with six second places and three third places for Citroen, Ford, and Hyundai.

An Irishman from the beginning until the end, Breen was known to compete in local rallies and also supported young and upcoming Irish drivers. The car he was driving at the time of his death was not specifically mentioned, but it's fair to assume it was the i20 N Rally1 Hybrid, which inspired the roadgoing Hyundai i20 N hot hatch that was never sold in the USA. Instead, America's closest relative was the Veloster N.

Breen's death is the first in a WRC car since Jorg Bastuck died as a co-driver in 2006. The last time a driver died was in 1989, when Augusto Mendes crashed during the Rallye de Portugal in his Opel Kadett GSI.

The entire WRC community will sincerely miss Craig, and we express our deepest condolences to his family.