The Dakar Rally’s grim reputation as the world’s deadliest race claimed another victim on Saturday when a female spectator was killed on the opening stage of the grueling 9,000km event.
Four other fans were also hurt in the incident, which happened near the town of Rio Cuarto, around 800km from Buenos Aires when a car careered off course.
“A 28-year-old woman has died. She suffered serious injuries to the head as well as the stomach and pelvis,” Norberto Brusa, a doctor at the Cordoba hospital, told TN television. “She suffered two heart attacks during her transfer to the hospital. Despite our best efforts, she died soon after arriving.”
Of the four people injured, two were airlifted along with the woman, who was named as Natalia Gallardo, to Cordoba from the rally course.
“A young man of 24 suffered leg fractures while a nine-year-old child was taken to a pediatric hospital and is in a stable condition,” Brusa said. “Two others have less serious injuries and are being treated at the local hospital at Rio Cuarto.”
The accident involved a 4x4 vehicle driven by German-Swiss duo Mirco Schultis and Ulrich Leardi that came off the track before colliding with the group of fans.
“Competitor number 418 [Schultis-Leardi] collided with a group of spectators at the 75km mark of the special stage outside the ‘public zone’ [a secured area reserved for spectators],” a statement released by the organizers said.
Five “public zones” set-up along the route of the first stage were planned to provide a safe and secure viewing area for spectators.
In all, there are 57 such areas set aside on the event’s 14 stages.
“The organizers and local authorities appeal once again to the people to show the greatest care and respect the public zones,” a race source said.
The Dakar Rally, which was switched to South America last year because of increasing security concerns in its traditional African home, is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous events in the world.
Last year, French motorcyclist Pascal Terry was killed while racing in the fourth stage, while two men died when their support truck was involved in a collision with another vehicle in Chile.
Since the race’s inception in 1979, more than 50 people involved in the event have been killed.
Saturday’s tragedy overshadowed the action that saw Spain’s Nani Roma win the car stage, taking his BMW to a commanding victory on the 294km timed run from Buenos Aires to Cordoba, Argentina.
Roma, the 2004 Dakar champion on two wheels, finished more than two minutes ahead of compatriot, and former world rally champion Carlos Sainz, driving a Volkswagen, while another BMW driver, Stephane Peterhansel of France, was third.
Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah was fourth in his Volkswagen, while South Africa’s reigning champion Giniel De Villiers, in another Volkswagen, was fifth.
France’s David Casteu, on a Sherco, won the motorcycling section of the stage.
Casteu edged out compatriot and KTM rider Cyril Despres, the 2005 and 2007 champion, while race favorite Marc Coma of Spain, on another KTM, was 12 seconds off the pace.
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