Dakar Rally Media Centre

F1 News

Pierre Cherpin (52) dies from injuries after his crash in the Dakar Rally

15 January 2021 at 08:04
Last update 15 January 2021 at 10:02
3
  • GPblog.com

The twelfth and final stage of the Dakar Rally 2021 unfortunately brings sad news. Pierre Cherpin died from his injuries following his crash in the seventh stage.

Pierre Cherpin crashed at 178 kilometres per hour during the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally in 2021. When the doctors found him, he was unconscious and was transferred to the hospital in Sakaka. There, it was found that he had suffered severe brain damage as a result of being unconscious. After an operation he was kept in a coma.

Heavy loss for the Dakar Rally

On Friday, Cherpin was supposed to be transferred from the hospital in Sakaka to Jeddah, to make the flight to his home country and receive further treatment in the hospital of Lille. However, Cherpin died of his injuries during this flight.

The 52-year-old Frenchman was taking part in the Dakar Rally for the fourth time, having first started with his motorbike in 2009. In 2012 and 2015 he was at the start again, but on the last occasion he had to give up due to engine problems. Prior to the seventh stage, Cherpin was 77th in the standings.