The WRC heads to Croatia in a sombre mood following the death of Hyundai driver Craig Breen, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a testing crash ahead of the event last Thursday.
The 33-year-old was set to make his second WRC start of the season in the third Hyundai entry, which has now been withdrawn from the event.
As a mark of respect and after discussions with Breen’s family and with his surviving co-driver James Fulton, Hyundai will field two cars for Thierry Neuville, sitting second in the championship standings, and Esapekka Lappi. The cars will run a special tribute livery to Breen, while all Rally1 and Rally2 cars are expected to display branding in honour of the Irishman.
Toyota’s eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier, competing in a partial campaign, heads the championship standings despite contesting only two of the three rounds to date, after …