Bizarre crash for Petter Solberg
Discussion
Looks like a stuck throttle - no injuries but demolished an electricity pole, causing a power cut in a nearby village.
http://youtu.be/YHTgPCUU9E4
Also here:
http://www.wrc.com/video/features/rally-france-sol...
Bizarre indeed, was trying to figure out what was happening! If it wasn't a stuck throttle it was a pretty odd attempt at turning an off into a shortcut.
http://www.wrc.com/video/features/rally-france-sol...
Bizarre indeed, was trying to figure out what was happening! If it wasn't a stuck throttle it was a pretty odd attempt at turning an off into a shortcut.
I've never seen anything like that, absolutely crazy.
Thank god nobody was hurt.
It wasn't a throttle problem;
Thank god nobody was hurt.
It wasn't a throttle problem;
Autosport said:
Petter Solberg cannot understand how the dramatic accident that ruled him out of Rallye de France happened.
Solberg crashed out of the event on Saturday morning's opening stage, sliding off the road after braking from a very fast section to a medium-speed left-hander.
Helicopter footage showed Solberg driving through vines, emerging back onto the road and then going straight across the course before hitting an electricity pole - which then fell over, without striking either the Ford or nearby spectators.
There were initial concerns that the Ford might have suffered throttle or steering damage, but Solberg said he simply could not see the road.
"We came too fast and went off to the right," said Solberg. "I kept the throttle in to pull us through the vines - because I knew the road came back around.
"But I couldn't see very well because of the leaves and foliage all over the windscreen. I didn't know we were across the road - I was expecting to see a much more wide-open area when we went over [the road]. And then we went straight to the pole.
"I don't know exactly what happened. We need to look at it more before I can comment.
"One thing is for sure, the car was absolutely perfect - there were no problems with the car at all."
The car sustained damage to the steering and right-front suspension, but Solberg is expected to return for Sunday's final day.
Solberg crashed out of the event on Saturday morning's opening stage, sliding off the road after braking from a very fast section to a medium-speed left-hander.
Helicopter footage showed Solberg driving through vines, emerging back onto the road and then going straight across the course before hitting an electricity pole - which then fell over, without striking either the Ford or nearby spectators.
There were initial concerns that the Ford might have suffered throttle or steering damage, but Solberg said he simply could not see the road.
"We came too fast and went off to the right," said Solberg. "I kept the throttle in to pull us through the vines - because I knew the road came back around.
"But I couldn't see very well because of the leaves and foliage all over the windscreen. I didn't know we were across the road - I was expecting to see a much more wide-open area when we went over [the road]. And then we went straight to the pole.
"I don't know exactly what happened. We need to look at it more before I can comment.
"One thing is for sure, the car was absolutely perfect - there were no problems with the car at all."
The car sustained damage to the steering and right-front suspension, but Solberg is expected to return for Sunday's final day.
Eric Mc said:
Looks like a vineyard. I bet the farmer will want some compo.
Any excuse to show the Xevi Pons clip again. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPB7TtNDnCA
thegreenhell said:
you can hear he kept his foot in !!!thegreenhell said:
The laugh at the end of that clip cracks me up 
Saw this today on highlights. Lucky he didn't kill someone. First by running them down, second by dropping a telegraph pole on their head.
Very reckless IMHO and deserves a reprimand. Yeah he knew the road was out there somewhere and wanted to push through the vineyard, fair enough. But at the speed he went?! How did he know there were not marshalls/spectators in his path?
Eric Mc said:
T sun angle seems to be quite low. Was he blinded I wonder?
He was blinded alright. By the mass of grape trees across his windscreen!! Watch the in-car footage and the helicopter shots as he comes across the road. He doesn't even realise he has emerged from the plants and crossed the road.Very reckless IMHO and deserves a reprimand. Yeah he knew the road was out there somewhere and wanted to push through the vineyard, fair enough. But at the speed he went?! How did he know there were not marshalls/spectators in his path?
John D. said:
...Yeah he knew the road was out there somewhere and wanted to push through the vineyard, fair enough...
That's not really 'fair enough'. That's someones vineyard he's making a mess of. This one really deserves some action being taken as it was reckless and stupid. With his experience this isn't acceptable.Matt.. said:
John D. said:
...Yeah he knew the road was out there somewhere and wanted to push through the vineyard, fair enough...
That's not really 'fair enough'. That's someones vineyard he's making a mess of. This one really deserves some action being taken as it was reckless and stupid. With his experience this isn't acceptable.
From what I've seen over the years its actually quite common practice to keep your foot in when running off the road like that.
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