Spectator killed in Dakar Rally tragedy as investigation launched into mid-race incident – Fox Sports
An Italian tourist has died after being struck by a competitor’s vehicle during the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally between Riyadh and Haradh within Saudi Arabia, organisers announced.
The spectator was standing “behind the sand dune” on the rally track when the accident occurred, plus died on the transfer by helicopter to hospital, Amaury Sport Organisation (AMO) said in a statement.
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Investigations are under way to determine the circumstances associated with the tragedy, AMO added.
The Dakar Rally started on December 31 on the shores of the Red Sea for more than 8, 000km of racing which ends upon January 15 in the eastern city of Dammam.
Based in Saudi Arabia for the fourth edition inside a row, the particular rally is raced mostly in desert areas but nevertheless attracts spectators even if in much smaller proportions than once the race was held in Latin America and Africa
Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah’s strategy of playing it safe saw him move a step closer to retaining his Dakar Move title but Tuesday’s 9th stage was overshadowed by the death of the tourist.
The particular 358km drive through wadis, canyons plus dunes saw Toyata driver Al-Attiyah, 52, finish 11min 8sec adrift from the stage winner, nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb.
However, the pressure further eased on Al-Attiyah as their closest pursuer overnight, the particular South African driver Henk Lategan, suffered a mechanical problem and lost forty minutes.
Al-Attiyah holds a lead associated with 1hr 21min over another Toyota car owner, Brazil’s Lucas Moraes, with Loeb the further 19min in arrears.
“Today we did a really good job without any mistakes, with no problems, ” said Al-Attiyah, bidding to become the first back to back winner since ‘Mr Dakar’ Stephane Peterhansel in 2016/17.
“We need to take it day by day time like this without any problems. We have a big gap now plus I hope to finish and to win this Dakar. ”