Dakar deaths stack up following fatal accident

The Dakar rally, which moved from Africa to South America for security reasons in 2009, is notoriously dangerous and has claimed a number of lives in its history, both among competitors and spectators.

The race was the idea of Frenchman Thierry Sabine after he got lost on his motorbike in the desert during the Abidjan-Nice Rally back in 1977. "A challenge for those who go, a dream for those who stay behind," is how Sabine described the inaugural Dakar.

Sabine, French singer Daniel Balavoine, journalist Nathaly Odent, pilot François Xavier-Bagnoud and radio technician Jean-Paul Le Fur were killed in a helicopter accident during the Dakar in 1983. Sabine's ashes were scattered in the desert and his father Gilbert, aided by Patrick Verdoy, took over the race's running.

In 1982, the son of then British Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher was stranded in the desert while competing in the Paris-Dakar Rally. "Being without a radio, I couldn't listen to the World Service and so had no idea of all the drama this was causing back home," Mark Thatcher told the Guardian newspaper in 2004. "I later found out that half of Fleet Street was in Tamanrasset and that the other half was trying to fly down there."

During the 1989 Dakar, Peugeot was fighting for victory with Ari Vatanen (R) and Jacky Ickx both driving identical cars. The former boss of Peugeot Jean Todt, who is now FIA president, became so concerned both might crash he opted to implement team orders. Taking a 10-franc piece out of his pocket, Todt flipped the coin -- with Vatanen winning the toss. Vatanen is pictured with Auriol during 1987 race.

Former motorcycle winner of the Dakar Hubert Auriol became the first driver to win in both the bike and car categories in 1992. That year the race comprised 22 stages and passed through 10 countries -- running from the north to Africa's southernmost tip of Africa -- on its 12,427 kilometer route.

Jutta Kleinschmidt made her first appearance in the Dakar in 1988 in the bike category. Thirteen years later the German -- at the wheel of a Mitsubishi -- became the first woman to win the prestigious car competition.

During the 2005 Dakar, motorbike riders Jose Manual Pérez and Fabrizio Meoni died in consecutive days after separate crashes. That year motorcyclist Cyril Despres dedicated his victory to Meoni and Richard Sainct, who had died a few weeks earlier during the Pharaohs Rally.

Driving a Mitsubishi, the 1997 World Cup skiing champion Luc Alphand won the 2006 Dakar. However his win was overshadowed by the deaths of two young spectators and Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott, who died on stage nine.

The Dakar has been canceled just once -- in 2008. After four French tourists were murdered in Mauritania on December 24, 2007, organizers chose not to run the event due to "direct threats against the race issued by terrorist groups." Eight of the rally's 15 stages had been due to pass through Mauritania.

The cancellation of the 2008 Dakar prompted the the 31st edition of the race to be moved to South America. There were victories for Marc Coma in the bike category, Josef Machacek in the quad category, Giniel De Villiers in the car category and Firdaus Kabirov in the truck category.

Last year Stephane Peterhansel of France won an unprecedented 10th Dakar title by the car class for the fourth time. It was the six-time motorcycle champion's first victory since the race left Africa.

HIDE CAPTION

Dangerous drive

Founding father

Dakar's dark year

Diplomatic incident

Toss of a coin

Double winner

'Miss Dakar'

Bike deaths

World Cup skiing champion

Terrorism stalks Dakar

South America switch

Historic triumph

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

>

>>

(CNN) -- The Dakar Rally was hit by yet another death as a French motorbike rider was killed following a collision with a Chilean police car.

Thomas Bourgin, 25, was on his way to start the seventh stage of the race when he was hit by the vehicle, which was traveling in the opposite direction.

Bourgin, from Saint Etienne, was found dead at the scene by medical officers.

Dakar Rally hit by deaths following road accident

An inquiry has been launched into the incident which comes after the deaths of two people following a crash between a taxi and a team support vehicle in the town of Tacna, close to the Chilean border.

A statement on the race's website read: "Motorcycle rider no. 106 Thomas Bourgin (FRA) was the victim of a fatal traffic accident on the link route as he made his way to the start of the day's special stage.

"The accident took place at 08.23 hours local time on the link route on the way up to the Chilean side of the mountain range. The 25-year-old rider collided with a Chilean police car that was travelling in the opposite direction. The exact circumstances of the accident are being subjected to an inquiry.

"The rally's medical teams deployed on the ground were only able to certify the rider's death, probably instant.

"Thomas Bourgin, from Saint Etienne, where he was born on December 23rd 1987, was in 68th place in the overall ranking of his first Dakar. He had realised his passion since 2009 when he took part in the Morocco Rally, followed by a 4th place in the 2011 Africa Race and a 7th place finish in the Tunisia Rally.

"The organisers of the Dakar and everyone involved in it express their great sadness to his family and friends and offer their most sincere condolences."

Since the inaugural race in 1978, 26 competitors have now lost their lives, while more than 50 have died overall. Only 74 of the original 182 participants made it to Dakar in the first year.

Although the race used to be held in Europe with the climax in Senegal, Africa, it was moved to South America in 2009 following threats of terrorism.