A sad loss

As you have already read or heard about in the media, Gregor Haug (inserted) and Horst Godel (main image) have been killed in an accident during the Master Rally.

On 3 August, they left the road on the second leg of the sixth round of the Cross Country World Cup in Russia. The  Mercedes 1935 4WD lorry of the German crew rolled and careered into a nearby forest. Horst Godel who was at the steering wheel of this No. #305 support vehicle of the GeCo-Raid team had no chance to survive. Similarly, Gregor Haug also succumbed to his injuries. Unbelievably, the third man on board, Uwe Ziegler, survived only slightly injured.

As I am currently in Canada, I'm not regularly clicking through the internet and it is a bit difficult to get hold of me, so I only learned about the incident three days later.

Most of you have probably not been aware  of the fact that both victims have been part of the circle of my acquaintances. When I have been in the desert for the first time ever back in 1987 following the Paris Dakar Rally on my private standard motocycle, I got lost in the dunes. Fortunately, I met Gregor Haug who was able to help me. I was impressed by his helpfulness and his navigational skills with whom he helped me to overcome this situation.

When I contested the first cross country rallies incompetition later on, I got to meet Horst Godel at the Pharaohs' Rally in Egypt. Ever since, Gregor, Horst and I met each other time and again as we all continued to contest off-road events such as the Paris Dakar Rally on different occasions.

Cross country rallying is known for its intense social life: it is an open scene and mutual support is common - in contrast to other kinds of motor sport. I was very sad to learn about the death of my companions. I extend my sympathy and my condolences to the families of both victims.