Rally-raid enthusiasts know Mathieu Baumel as one of the most experienced and successful co-drivers in the sport. The Frenchman, who competed alongside Guillaume de Mévius in this year’s Dakar Rally, has had to make a life-changing decision: following a serious traffic accident, his right leg has been amputated.
Accident in Reims
Shortly after the 2024 Dakar Rally, Baumel was involved in a traffic accident in Reims, where he was present for the start of the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. While assisting a stranded crew at the roadside, he was struck by a vehicle. Since then, he had been hospitalized, and after a difficult period, the decision was made to amputate his right leg.
Baumel Remains Positive
On social media, the 49-year-old Frenchman shared his update: “We are now seventeen days later, and I can say that things are improving. But I had to make the hardest decision of my life: I had my right leg amputated.”
Baumel is an icon in the rally-raid world and has won the Dakar Rally four times alongside Nasser Al-Attiyah (2015, 2019, 2022, 2023). This year, he teamed up with De Mévius in a MINI, but due to technical problems, the duo finished in a disappointing eighteenth place.
Return to Rally Sport
Despite this major setback, Baumel is determined to remain active in rallying. With the help of a prosthetic leg, he aims to continue his role as a navigator. His left leg, which has undergone multiple surgeries, is expected to fully recover according to doctors. His perseverance and passion for the sport remain as strong as ever.
RallyTracks.nl will closely follow his recovery and potential return to the rally-raid world!
