Craig Breen’s map reader and best friend died in a crash in 2012. The driver was close to ending his career.
Passed away in the test of the World Rally Championship in Croatia on Thursday Craig Breen faced tragedy himself in 2012.
Breen was driving a rally in Sicily with his map reader by Gareth Roberts with when the car started to understeer on the eighth special test. The Irish driver drove out in a fast bend, causing the road’s guardrail to pierce the right side of the car.
24-year-old Roberts died in the accident.
– I lost half of myself, Breen wrote on social media at the time.
The Irish driver described Roberts as being like a brother to him. Shocked by the death, Breen considered ending his rally career.
The driver accepted the risks of the sport, but the closeness of the tragedy touched him. In the end, Breen decided to continue his career.
– It was the hardest decision of my life, he described to the Irish Times.
“destroyed me”
Craig Breen died in Croatia on Thursday. PDO
After the accident, Breen spoke about rally safety and remembered Roberts. He said last summer on the Dirtfish podcasthow heavy it felt to lose a friend.
– It destroyed me. We shared so much. We bonded and enjoyed our journey together. When he was no longer a part of it, it really destroyed me. Nobody knows how sensitive I was in my first rallies after the accident, Breen said.
– It took me a while to get back on my feet. It still holds me back. I’ll try my best to get through it.
Breen described Roberts as a consummate map reader.
– He tried to improve constantly. I could see how much he was trying.
Craig Breen (left) and Gareth Roberts were close. PDO
Breen died on Thursday in a crash during tests for the World Rally Championship in Croatia.
According to Croatian media, the Irish driver of the Hyundai suffered fatal injuries when his car hit a wooden fence. Part of the fence penetrated into the car from the left side.
Map reader James Fulton survived without physical injury.