Dakar – Philippe Boutron seriously injured by the explosion of a support 4x4

A dramatic accident struck the Dakar caravan on Wednesday December 29, 2021. An explosive device, placed in a support vehicle of the Gironde team Sodicars, exploded near a gas station. The information was confirmed by David Castera, the boss of the event, this Saturday January 1st. The explosive device could have been placed under the driver's seat according to our information.

While Frenchman Philippe Boutron, at the wheel of the support 4×4, was preparing to go to the shakedown of the event in Jeddah to compete in his ninth Dakar, the explosion caused a serious injury to one leg, more precisely at the calf. The President of the US Orléans football club was operated on several times in a military hospital and could be repatriated to France as early as Sunday. His days are not in danger.

Present on the bivouac, AUTOhebdo as well as all accredited media in the rally-raid received an email from the organizers advocating “the greatest vigilance”. The Dakar and the Saudi authorities have decided “to reinforce all the security measures which were already in force in previous years and had been renewed for this third edition of the Dakar in Saudi Arabia. The entire route, hotels and bivouacs will therefore benefit from significant reinforced security. » An investigation is underway.

The FIA ​​communicated this Sunday January 2: “The FIA ​​provides its full support to French driver Philippe Boutron, injured in the explosion of a support vehicle before the start of the Dakar Rally in Jeddah, and wishes him a speedy recovery. The FIA ​​trusts the local authorities to shed light on what happened and continue to ensure the safety of the race in conjunction with the organizers. »

CARhebdo wishes Philippe Boutron a good recovery.