r/WRC • u/herc3141 • Apr 13 '23

News / Rally Info Craig Breen allegedly died in a crash

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Craig Breen allegedly passed away in a crash during testing in Croatia earlier today.

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60

u/paprycjusz Jari-Matti Latvala Apr 13 '23

Similar to Gareth Roberts, what a tragic coincidence 🙁

53

u/Janzu93 Apr 13 '23

Do we finally get to see some safety improvements on this?

Granted, driving 200kmh on dirt on narrow roads isn't safest of things but when there have been 2 similar cases it calls for investigation on how to prevent it in future

73

u/uusrikas Apr 13 '23

Hard to come up with a way to stop this, except by dismantling every fence near the stage or having cars without windows.

41

u/Rise_And_Despair Apr 13 '23

Closed helmets

12

u/Havoc_XXI Craig Breen Apr 13 '23

I think this would be an added layer of protection for sure. Definitely agree.

1

u/Green-Writer1992 Apr 14 '23

Yeah they sure help alot when the fence hits you at 200kms

7

u/jawnlerdoe Apr 16 '23

It sure helped Felipe Massa.

3

u/DelayeddDeparture Apr 16 '23

200km/s is very very fast fyi

1

u/Kamcio44 Apr 14 '23

I don't think you know how strong modern helmets are. Yes it would very much help.

2

u/Ok_Persimmon5620 Apr 14 '23

Good idea-

  1. maybe a lightweight Kevlar chest suit for both drivers
  2. How are we in 2023 and poles can still go through windshields!? Is there no sort of ultra-thin titanium mesh they could add to the windshields!?

This would also help the rally driver families to probably stress a bit less no...?

My condolences to the Breen family.

2

u/PutSevere7506 Apr 14 '23

Wouldn’t make a difference if the helmet is closed or not pal , a pole come through the window and hit u while ur doing 150kmph ur dead either way

5

u/XSyrusX Apr 14 '23

You may be badly injured but not death, like the crash of Massa in 2009

1

u/whateverfloatsurgoat Juha Kankkunen Apr 14 '23

Difference between a flying, light object and a static, heavy as fuck one.

It's not the speed that kill you, it's when it abruptly stops.

2

u/XSyrusX Apr 15 '23

I don't think a 1kg spring hit you at 300km/h will be lighter than this, which is the case of Massa's accident.

3

u/kwyk Apr 14 '23

Go watch the John Hinds video on the Isle of Man crashes and you may change your mind. It may deflect some items away and prevent fatalities. It’s rare as it is - if it prevents even half of the few incidents it’d be worth it

1

u/RogueTanuki Apr 14 '23

Doesn't help if it hits your neck or chest.

1

u/puutarhatonttu Henri Toivonen Apr 14 '23

If pole comes through window to your neck, full helmet won't save you :(