Craig Breen's teammates take Croatia start line in Irish colours

The Hyundai Motorsport cars of Thierry Neuville and Esapekka Lappi will be liveried in the tricolour in honour of their late friend.

TRIBUTE: Members of Hyundai team put up the name of Irish driver Craig Breen on a black surface ahead of the World Rally championship's Croatia Rally in Zagreb. Picture: DENIS LOVROVIC/AFP via Getty Images

With heavy hearts following the tragic loss of Craig Breen, who injected so much passion into the World Rally championship, Friday's Rally Croatia sees the Hyundai Motorsport cars of Thierry Neuville and Esapekka Lappi liveried with the Irish colours in honour of their late teammate. 

The Korean outfit reached a decision to compete after careful consideration that included discussions with Craig’s family and his co-driver James Fulton, Hyundai Motorsport’s crews and team members. The Toyota Gazoo Racing team, looking for their third straight win in Croatia have, as a mark of respect for Hyundai, withdrawn Elfyn Evans from the manufacturers’ championship battle but he is eligible to score drivers’ championship points alongside Takamoto Katsuta, who drives a fourth Yaris with Northern Ireland’s Aaron Johnston on the pacenotes.