Late Craig Breen's memory ‘will never fade’ as memorial unveiled in Croatia

The monument in honour of Craig Breen unveiled at Rally Croatia

Craig Breen suffered a fatal accident at the 2023 Rally Croatia

thumbnail: The monument in honour of Craig Breen unveiled at Rally Croatia
thumbnail: Craig Breen suffered a fatal accident at the 2023 Rally Croatia
Jason Craig

Croatia Rally organisers unveiled a new memorial to former FIA World Rally Championship driver Craig Breen on Saturday — and insisted they will not allow the Irishman’s memory to “fade away”.

With support from the WRC Promoter and Hyundai Motorsport, it took five months to complete the monument which is inscribed with the words, ‘#42 In loving memory of Craig Breen 1990 – 2023’.

Erected at the site of 2023’s fatal accident, it is accompanied by an image of Breen and surrounded by Irish tricolours and tributes left by fans.

Saturday marked the first anniversary since Breen succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the pre-event testing crash for the Zagreb-based Tarmac competition, which returns next week.

A follow-up investigation into the incident by Croatian authorities concluded the 33-year-old had lost control of his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 in “slippery conditions” as he negotiated a right turn.

While navigator James Fulton escaped the shunt unharmed, Breen’s death was “instantaneous” after contact with a fence resulted in one of the posts entering the cabin through his side window.

Daniel Šaškin, the Croatia Rally Organising Committee President, helped unveil the monument. Although none of Breen’s immediate family were able to attend due to an anniversary mass taking place back home in the Republic of Ireland, Šaškin confirmed that they had all given their approval.

“It is our duty to remember Craig. That is why we gathered for the commemoration and monument unveiling,” said Šaškin. “Fellow Irish and Croatian people have become closer after this tragedy.

“I have been in contact with Craig’s family this week and I have once again expressed our deepest sympathies to them one year on,” he added. “We will not allow the memory of Craig to fade away.”

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motorsport — the team Breen was representing in the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship —has announced all three of its points-scoring i20 N Rally1 cars will incorporate the Irish flag into the roof and bumper design for Croatia Rally, the fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

A number of one-off items are also being put up for auction by the team, with all proceeds going to the Craig Breen Foundation. A full list is at https://app.galabid.com/cbf24/items