The Ales Loprais crew during the 9th Stage had an accident with serious consequences, which prevented the team to continue. Until then, Loprais was successful, won the eighth stage after two second places, held the second place overall in the truck category as well as in 9th Stage and was ready for an enormous battle with Gerard de Rooy and other rivals.
Unfortunately, the competition ended cruelly for Ales’s crew in the neutralised zone, where they did not measure the time between the 340th and 460 mile, asphalt on a flat section in the neutralization zone.
“On the 374th kilometer stage we unfortunately had a fatal accident. After the tense part of the first stage, I let Peter Almášiho (mechanic) control the truck, who unfortunately dozed away. Me and navigator Michael Ernst unfortunately had fallen asleep ae well. I woke up in the moment when the car started hurtling into a huge ravine. I yelled at Almiho, but he did not respond. Shock was crazy. He immediately ripped off both front wheels and the car flipped over several times over the front axle. At the moment it was over, “said Ales accident.
Priority immediately became completely different things. Initially it seemed that the crew of InstaForex Loprais Team was just bruised, but eventually had to organizing intervention helicopters. “The main thing was to transport us all to treatment. The entire transportation was tiring and lasted three hours, for the helicopter we waited over an hour. We are currently in hospital in Iquiqe. I have broken two vertebras and Peter has a concussion. Michael escaped fortunately without consequences, “says Alex.
After a year-long preparation of a new, very competitive car and the whole crew, as well as the precision-built interim results for Ales who enjoyed the respect of people not only in the competition, he came harsh and abrupt end: “For this year’s Dakar we have a whole team and I did our best, including winning the Silk Way Rally and etapových existing range, we were poised to great results. I would encourage Peter Almášiho. I know it will be a long read, but mikrospánek overcome for many people. We are still a great team, and after recovery, we would like once again to fight for the Dakar title. I thank all partners and fans for their feedback, they are incredibly numerous and very pleased of their support. Thank you very much from the Hospital de Iquiqe, “says Alex.
The whole team for the rest of the day focused on the repatriation of the crashed truck at the accident site and should be noted that the contest remains a second car, Bonver Dakar Team Thomas Porter, whose crew finished the stage. In the bivouac after the arrival of her background helped logistically and other Czech teams, for which they deserve great thanks.
InstaForex Loprais Team