Paddon's Crash: What Went Wrong

Last night, Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard were nearing the end of the Entrevaux-Ubraye stage (SS1), when disaster struck. While turning in for a sweeping left-hander, the New Zealand native hit a patch of black ice, causing the Hyundai i20 WRC to violently oversteer. The car then went off on the outside and made contact with the cliffside, flipping it on its right side. It is unclear from current reports and video evidence whether or not Paddon actually struck the photographer and launched him up the cliffside, or if the car striking the outcrop simply caused the man to lose his balance. Either way, his tumble down the cliffside would prove fatal, as he succumbed to cardiac arrest shortly after.

In the wake of the accident, the race was halted for some time, and the Entrevaux-Ubraye stage was ultimately removed from the roster altogether (though Ogier, Neuville, and Sordo had completed the stage, there were still others that had yet to do so). Upon learning of the spectator’s death, both Hyundai and Paddon released statements on Twitter expressing their grief towards the situation. Out of respect for the spectator’s family, Paddon has withdrawn from Rallye Monte Carlo.

There is no doubt in my mind that Paddon is not to blame for this incident. When I watched the replays of the incident, I was amazed at how quickly it all happened. One moment, the car has good grip, and it’s on its side in the next. The oversteer happened so quickly and violently that there was no way any driver could have saved it. Even at full throttle, this crash was simply unavoidable; the forward momentum was too much to overcome.

Now, on to the subject of the spectator. The photographer, a 50 year old Spanish man whose name has not yet been released, was perched on the rock outcrop just mere feet away from the tarmac. His spot, while it may have been ideal for taking photos, was not a very safe location. If a car is to leave the tarmac, it is most likely to do so onto the outside of the corner, whether it oversteers or understeers. Standing on the outside of a corner in a rally, with no barrier in place to protect you, is a recipe for disaster. Not only was it a bad place to be period, but the situation was made worse due to the fact that the spectator was perched on a sheer rock face. When things started to go wrong, there was no way to step backwards out of the car’s path. What makes the situation even sadder is that a guardrail was installed on the inside of the corner, and by the looks of it, the photographer could have very easily stood there instead.

Finally, the spectator was told the risks and ignored them regardless of the possible consequences. In an interview, Belgian Clio Cup champion Romain Dergeer (who witnessed the events firsthand) recalled that he, among others, warned the Spanish photographer not to stand in that location. “We all shouted at him and told him not to stay there,” said Dergeer. “When Paddon arrived, the car slipped, squatted before the left and tapped the slope. The guy was broke, crushed by the car before flying and dropping his head down on the road. A firefighter was on site as a spectator tried to do a CPR.” Dergeer, and others, were about ten metres away from the incident, and immediately rushed to the man’s aid. However, there was nothing they could do. Though an attempt was made to airlift him to a hospital, the man was already dead at the scene of the accident.

Though Rallye Monte Carlo continues, this incident will no doubt hang over the event like a black raincloud. If you are attending a rally anytime soon, just remember: make good choices. Your life may very well depend on it.