We’ve all got our own special memories of Craig Breen.
Whether it’s a personal exchange, or something he did behind the wheel that blew us away, it’s fair to say the affable Irishman left a mark on the World Rally Championship that will never be erased.
As we continue to grieve a lost friend, we felt it appropriate to remember Breen’s career with a selection of key images – 42 to be precise, in tribute to his competition number.
Flat to the square right.
Making a splash: Breen's career began by impressing in Fiestas in the UK and Ireland
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Star driver; star drive. Breen's first WRC Academy win, Germany 2011
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
World champion! Breen celebrates an emphatic WRC Academy title
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Monte magic: First SWRC rally, first SWRC win
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Peugeot pounce: Breen joins the famous brand for IRC/ERC
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
And debuts on the Circuit of Ireland Rally, an event close to his heart
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Losing Jaffa. The hardest moment of his career, by far
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Paul Nagle becomes new co-driver
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Remembering Jaffa: An emotional Breen wins 2012 SWRC title
Photo: Josh Folks/Hairpin Motorsport Media
First international overall podium: Rally Liepāja 2013
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Last rally with Nagle, Ypres 2013. For the time being...
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Testing, testing. Breen was involved in developing Peugeot's 208 T16 R5
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
A World Rally Car debut in Sweden 2014, and Breen scored points in ninth
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
208's debut, Acropolis Rally 2014
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Which Breen and new co-driver Scott Martin won! Breen's first international win
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Circuit of Ireland Rally was one Breen always wanted to win, and he did in 2015
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
A window of opportunity. Peugeot chapter was ending, but another one was coming
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Breen joined Citroën for select WRC rounds in 2016
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
But also competed elsewhere, netting another Circuit of Ireland win
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Emotional Breen grabbed a stunning first WRC podium in Finland
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Pushing the DS3 WRC to its limits
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Breen remained with Citroën as the C3 WRC debuted in 2017
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Rally Sweden 2018 marked a career best second overall
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Celebrating that fine second place with future team-mates
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Breen's Citroën chapter would end after 2018
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
He stepped down to R5 machinery in 2019 and won several big rallies, including Sanremo
Photo: Girardo & Co. Archive
Back where they belong. Breen and Nagle reunited, and signed up by Hyundai
Photo: Hyundai
On the edge. Breen loving his new office
Photo: Hyundai
A team player. Sharing a car with Sordo, Breen helped Hyundai win 2019 manufacturers' championship
Photo: Hyundai
Coming of age: Estonia 2020 was a big performance
Photo: Hyundai
Appreciated by all. Tänak toasts his team-mate after they finish 1-2
Photo: Hyundai
Breen emotionally returned to Targa Florio in 2021, but heartbreakingly missed victory by just 2.4 seconds
Photo: Hyundai
But in the WRC, the podiums kept coming!
Photo: Hyundai
Ypres was the second of three in a row, marking the peak of Breen's career
Photo: Hyundai
Breen waved goodbye to Hyundai with third in Finland
Photo: Hyundai
A full-time drive at M-Sport started brilliantly with another podium
Photo: M-Sport
But the move didn't work out as planned after a difficult 2022
Photo: M-Sport
Nagle retires: Emotional scenes at the end of Rally Spain
Photo: M-Sport
James Fulton steps in to become Breen's new WRC co-driver
Photo: M-Sport
The smile returns: Back in Hyundai gear for 2023
Photo: Hyundai
Sweden 2023 was arguably the best drive of Breen's career
Photo: Hyundai
Superb Swedish second, but cruelly Breen would never reach the top step
Photo: Hyundai
