In April, Irish motorsport lost of one of its accomplished figures with the tragic death of Craig Breen at the age of 33.
The Waterford native had showed his talents behind the wheel from an early age, winning the World Rally Championship Academy title in 2011 and eventually getting the opportunity to reach the WRC itself.
In doing so, he established himself as one of Ireland's leading contemporary drivers.
While his skill and daring were evident, the way he carried himself away from his chosen domain endeared him to fans and his peers.
Reigning Junior WRC champion William Creighton, Indy NXT's James Roe and single-seater rising star Alex Dunne recently shared their memories of Breen's humility and selflessness with RTÉ Sport.
In winning the Junior WRC this year, Creighton became the second Irishman to win the title at that level, emulating Breen's 2011 achievement.
The Down man immediately dedicated the championship win to Breen who was not far from his thoughts, with the senior driver having always been ready to impart advice down through the years.
"I think the first time that we properly met was at a Hyundai test that I got an invite to for winning the Junior BRC (British Rally Championship) and he was the official driver at the time for developing the Rally2 car," Creighton recalled.
"Long before meeting Craig, we knew a lot about him, what he had achieved and I think the main thing that everyone knew Craig for was his personality.
"Whenever you got to an end of a stage at the WRC, you never knew what he was going to say but you knew that it would be truthful and his emotions would be on camera.
"He's just one of the most special characters that was ever in the WRC and Irish rallying."
Shortly before his death in Croatia, Breen had been back home making sure to play his part as a beacon to future generation of drivers, Creighton said, adding that the Craig Breen Foundation would carry on that legacy.
"The Thursday before we headed off to Croatia, he was at a junior rallying open day and I was also there and he's giving kids advice, he's giving me advice," he said.
"I think it epitomises him. He was there that day giving kids advice and helping them out and he was already supporting the next generation coming through."
Roe, who races in the Indy NXT series in the US, returned home for the funeral to pay his respects and had witnessed Breen's kindness first hand.
"Craig is just synonymous with Irish motorsport and he did so much for the island of Ireland and Irish motorsport, putting us on the map in WRC for many, many years," he said.
"I knew Craig through Team Ireland, which I was fortunately part of, the Jon Campion Foundation that was founded in 2017 and Craig was involved in it and I was a CJJ-funded driver as was Craig, so we knew each other through it.
"But the day that really set me in stone with Craig and really had me looking up to him was in early 2017.
"I was training at the Team Ireland training facility in Monaghan - DBSM was what it was called at the time - and he came in with one of his good friends called Patrick Croke, who is in a wheelchair and has been for many, many years.
"But DBSM had a zero gravity treadmill that lifts people up and you can walk. So that day, I witnessed one of Craig's best friends walk for the very first time in his life and that was something that Craig instilled and made happen.
"He didn't have to do that. He took his friend there, drove him up, got him on this treadmill that he knew about from the Team Ireland programme and Patrick walked for the first time ever from what I understand.
"Just to see that was in his heart and that meant so much to him and he went out of his way in the middle of a WRC campaign to do that for a friend, that just clicked with me that this guy is a genuine guy and has nothing but good in him."
Dunne, 18, is looking to forge a path towards Formula One but took inspiration from how Breen had flown the flag for Ireland in rallying.
"I wasn't involved in rallying myself but I always saw him whether we went to the Irish awards or I was away racing," he said.
"I think a couple of times when I was younger, he used to drive karts for fitness and I was always there driving as well so I remember meeting him and every time he saw me, he'd always come over and say hello and have a chat with me.
"So whenever we crossed paths, he was always super nice to talk to and definitely to see somebody like that so well known and so high up in the sport disappear is heartbreaking."
