Drivers Michel Kremer and Thomas de Bois escape injury in ‘frightening’ Dakar Rally blaze as car bursts into flames
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Updated 02/01/2023 at 19:45 GMT
Two drivers escaped unharmed when a car burst into flames in the first stage of the Dakar Rally, causing vast plumes of black smoke to ascend into the Saudi Arabian sky. Michel Kremer and Thomas de Bois were in the car at the time, which was completely destroyed. “Fortunately we are ok. We could jump out in time. The car started burning,” Kremer said. “It was odd.”
Scary scenes as car of Michel Kremer and Thomas de Bois bursts into flames
Michel Kremer and Thomas de Bois escaped a fiery blaze at the Dakar Rally after their car burst into flames in a “frightening” incident.
The car, which was completely destroyed in the incident, began to burn with Kremer and De Bois inside before it turned into an out-of-control fireball.
Fortunately, the pair were able to escape before the vehicle was completely alight.
“Fortunately we are ok,” Kremer explained after the incident. “We could jump out in time. The car started burning.
“We got a warning, low fuel pressure. I said that could not be right, the tank was full.
“It was odd. Thomas [de Bois] looked outside, we smelled something. He said ‘we are on fire.’"
Only the shell of the roll cage was visible after the fire eventually died down, and other drivers were spotted passing the burnt-out wreckage after seeing the drivers make their escape.
“We were still rolling and took a small hill,” De Bois explained. “He let the car roll.
“The flames were beside the car so I opened the door. The flames were passing the door. I jumped out and called ‘Michel’.
“We looked at each other in huge disappointment.”
“It went better and better. It sucks we can not finish it,” he added tearfully.
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Dakar Rally 2023, Stage 1 highlights: Trucks
Tom Coronel found out about the incident involving his teammates after he had completed the stage, and posted on Twitter about the “frightening” experience for the team.
“So sorry for our team-mates,” he wrote. “Their car had caught fire at about 70km into the stage and was burnt down to the ground.
“That is very frightening and terrible for the whole team, but luckily Michel and Thomas were able to get out in time.”
Two-time winner of the motorbikes classification, Sam Sunderland, saw his title defence ended prematurely after a crash on the opening stage on Sunday, and he was subsequently airlifted to hospital.
The 33-year-old Brit crashed out in the 52nd kilometre of the 368km stage, broke a shoulder blade and suffered a concussion, as well as a hematoma on his back.
"These moments are what make the victories so special," said Sunderland "Being out of Dakar on day one is a tough pill to swallow.”
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