Bulgarian Rally Tragic Accident

Having posted about this weekend's European Rally Championships in Bulgaria yesterday this is very bad news indeed. This is one reason why I don’t like sports like these. I’m amazed more drivers and a viewing public lined along the roadside haven’t been killed in the past. One misjudgement at high speed and a major accident is waiting to happen. People will of course say that’s a risk in any sport.

Swiss driver Brian Lavio (Peugeot 207 S2000) suffered a severe crash on SS7 “Sestrimo” of Rally Bulgaria in which his Italian co-driver Flavio Gugelmini died at the scene. The stage was stopped immediately and the rally has since been cancelled by the event organisers.

The crash is reported to have happened on a new section of the stage.

Lavio was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. He was said to be in stable condition, with bruising of the thorax and abdomen, also an injured collar bone and knee. Lavio will be transferred to Sofia’s Pirogov emergency hospital for tests, Police investigators from Pazardzhik have arrived at the scene of the accident and pre-trial proceedings have been formally opened.

Giandomenico Basso had been leading the rally until the tragic accident.

Source: www.rally-erc.com