Craig Breen Foundation set up to honour late rally driver

Eight months after rally driver Craig Breen was killed in an accident in testing, a foundation bearing his name has been established to ensure his legacy lives on.

The Craig Breen Foundation will begin by supporting the J1000 Forestry Series - a junior championship for 14- to 17-year-olds breaking into rallying in Ireland - next year, with cash prizes and tuition for its most promising youngsters.

A total pot of €35,000 will provide financial rewards for every round of the championship in 2024, with €16,000 being put aside to support the top three drivers in rallying events the following season.

Meanwhile the champion will be given funding for a drive with the Sports & You team (owned by Breen’s friend Ze Pedro Fontes) in a round of the Spanish or Portuguese Hyundai i20 Cup, and there’s a day’s rally tuition at the John Haughland Rally School and pacenote tuition with Paul Nagle (Breen’s former co-driver) up for grabs too.

The Foundation has been backed by a number of parties, including Hyundai Motorsport, Sports & You, Hyundai Portugal, Hyundai Spain, Motorsport Ireland and the FIA, and it’s committed to supporting the J1000 Forestry Series for at least the next five years.

Before his tragic accident in April, Breen - who hailed from Waterford, Ireland - had offered to support the series financially himself, such was his belief in the grassroots of the sport.

“Further details will be released in due course, but we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those companies, organisations and individuals involved who have already supported the Foundation in honouring Craig’s legacy,” read a statement posted to Breen’s social media channels. “In particular, we would like to thank Hyundai Motorsport who have been instrumental in establishing the foundation.”

No doubt Craig would be proud.