Michael Park R.I.P.

[bartelby]

"Michael Park, Markko Martin's co-driver, has been killed on the Wales Rally GB, following an accident in SS15.

Martin's Peugeot 307 WRC hit a tree on the passengers' side during the 27.42 kilometre Margam test.

The organisers have now confirmed that the 39-year-old suffered fatal injuries and the remaining two stages have been cancelled. Martin himself was not injured."

 

[combatcolin]

Considering the speeds they get too and just how dangerous the driving can be, i think its a testament that fatalities are so rare in the sport.

 

[cheekyspanky]

A very sad end to what was a pretty good rally. Especially the Millennium stadium special stages.

Apparently they had both been involved in a big accident last year, resulting in hospitalisation.

 

[iGav]

tis a shame.

Sadly it's not all that uncommon in rallying... I read that a Finnish co-driver was killed in a rally this weekend, and not all that long ago ('03) Subaru's Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman were killed in a U.S. rally. Then there was Possum Bourne who was killed during a prep run for a rallying event the same year.

It's an incredibly dangerous sport, probably more so than any other motorsport... the sad thing is that Peugeot may well pull out of the rest of this season, and as both they and Citroën are pulling out of the World Rally Championship at the end of 2005... it's really beginning to look like the WRC is on it's last legs.

 

[bartelby]

tis a shame.

Sadly it's not all that uncommon in rallying... I read that a Finnish co-driver was killed in a rally this weekend, and not all that long ago ('03) Subaru's Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman were killed in a U.S. rally. Then there was Possum Bourne who was killed during a prep run for a rallying event the same year.

It's an incredibly dangerous sport, probably more so than any other motorsport... the sad thing is that Peugeot may well pull out of the rest of this season, and as both they and Citroën are pulling out of the World Rally Championship at the end of 2005... it's really beginning to look like the WRC is on it's last legs.

I remember Possum being killed.

I don't think WRC has long to go either.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

... it's really beginning to look like the WRC is on it's last legs.

I hope not, but without factory teams I can't see it generating the kind of interest (read: money) they'll need to keep it going.

I dunno, maybe it will hang on with all or mostly privateer cars.

 

[wdlove]

My prayers are with the family and friends of Michael Park. May he rest in peace. He died doing what he loved best. Often that is a comfort to many.

 

[barneygumble]

A terrible shame for all involved, unfortunatly with all the precautions you can take, you can still hit things at the wrong angle and die, just look at greg moore's crash, may he rest in peace.

 

[wrc fan]

Just saw this on the TV. Quite a shame. He leaves behind a wife and 2 children.

Rally drivers are the best people IMHO. Seb Loeb incured a 2 minute penalty so that he would not win the Championship at this event (because of Gronholm's withdraw following his teamate's crash, Loeb would have clinched the championship if he came in first). That's a real class act.

 

[wrc fan]

I hope not, but without factory teams I can't see it generating the kind of interest (read: money) they'll need to keep it going.

I dunno, maybe it will hang on with all or mostly privateer cars.

Although PSA is withdrawing an official team, there is talk that there will still be a factory backed team still running the Citroën Xaras (and not using the spiffy new C4). Also Suzuki and Fiat are rumored to be entering cars next year, though perhaps not for the full schedule.

 

[wrc fan]

some pictures from the crash

 

[Counterfit]

It's simply amazing. If you've seen pictures of their massive crash last year, the entire back of the Focus they were in looks like it hit a pair of land mines (the rear diff landed on a big rock after a jump). This looks like a fairly minor crash, yet it resulted in a fatality.

Edit: after looking again, it does not look fairly minor, but still less horrific than last year's.

 

[wrc fan]

after looking again, it does not look fairly minor, but still less horrific than last year's.

The problem is where the impact of the tree was. If it had been but one foot further back he might've lived.

 

[iGav]

The problem is where the impact of the tree was. If it had been but one foot further back he might've lived.

those are the first pics I've seen of the accident, the passenger cell impact damage is massive isn't it, look at the A post and roof.

 

[Counterfit]

The problem is where the impact of the tree was. If it had been but one foot further back he might've lived.

Someone said "Baseball is a game of inches"

Well, LIFE is a game of ****ing inches. Even one millimeter of difference in something, can mean someone lives or dies.