Four-time Dakar Rally-winning navigator Mathieu Baumel has been placed in an induced coma after being struck by a car in a tragic road accident in northern France.
According to La Provence, the highly decorated rally co-driver was attending to a broken-down vehicle when he was hit by another car in the city of Reims.
Baumel, who recently competed in the 2025 Dakar Rally alongside Guillaume de Mévius in an X-raid Mini JCW, had been in Reims for the start of the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique when the accident occurred.
Father Confirms Severity of Injuries: “It’s Serious”
Baumel’s father, Gérard Baumel, who serves as the mayor of Céreste-en-Luberon, confirmed that his son was conscious at the time of the accident but in a serious condition.
“He saw a crashed car and stopped to help the people when another car arrived and hit him,” his father told La Provence.
“It’s serious, he was conscious when he was hit.”
While full details of his condition remain unknown, reports indicate that Baumel has suffered significant leg injuries and was placed in an induced coma.
A Legend in Rally Navigation
Baumel is regarded as one of the best cross-country rally navigators of all time, having spent years alongside Qatari rally icon Nasser Al-Attiyah.
- The duo competed together across multiple teams, including Volkswagen, Toyota, and most recently, Prodrive.
- Baumel helped Al-Attiyah secure four Dakar Rally titles, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s elite navigators.
- Following the 2024 Dakar Rally, Baumel and Al-Attiyah parted ways, with the Frenchman teaming up with de Mévius for the Baja Aragón last summer.
What’s Next? Concerns Over Recovery
With Baumel now in intensive care, the motorsport community is anxiously awaiting updates on his condition and recovery prospects.
This tragic incident has shocked the rally world, with fans and fellow drivers sending messages of support and hope for the recovery of one of cross-country rallying’s most respected figures.
