Breen’s ‘Mayor of Brattby’ interview voted WRC Moment of the Year 2023

Breen, who tragically lost his life in a testing accident on 13 April, endeared himself to fans with his infectious enthusiasm for all things rallying. Whether he was behind the wheel of a top-level machine in a WRC round or navigating a historic car through the lanes of his native Ireland, Breen’s passion was unmistakable.

At Rally Sweden, his final appearance on the global stage, the Irishman’s spirit shone through as he drove a Hyundai i20 N Rally1 for the first time in competition - displaying such mastery of the car that it seemed as though he had been driving it for years.

It was on the 10.76km Brattby stage that he truly left his mark. Setting a time 3.8sec quicker than Ott Tänak on the initial pass, Breen’s dominance was further highlighted on the repeated run when he stopped the clock a staggering 7.8sec quicker than any of his competitors to claim the lead.

As the realisation of his remarkable feat sunk in, a joyous Breen couldn’t help but share a moment of humour, declaring with a grin: "I could probably be the Mayor of Brattby at this stage"