Two spectators killed in motor rally accident in France
A third person watching the race is now fighting for their life after being seriously injured at the rally near Ambert in the Puy-de-Dome region on Saturday morning.
The car left the road at around 10am before crashing into spectators, according to regional outlet La Montagne.
The driver was reportedly left with only minor injuries as dozens of police officers and firefighters were mobilised to respond to the accident.
The local prefecture said: 'The provisional toll shows two people dead, one person in critical condition, and several others involved in the shock.'
The race, which was just over 7km long, stretched between Baffie and Fontlobines in the commune of Saint-Just.
The prefect of Puy-de-Dome, the region's top local official, is set to conduct a press conference this afternoon.
This is not the first time the racing event near Ambert has been marred by tragedy.
At last year's race in July 2024, a steward reportedly died when he was hit by a car that lost control as he attended to a separate accident.
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Mechanical security systems - like a steering lock - might seem 'old hat' but are a great deterrent Steering wheel locks, gear clamps, wheel clamps and other traditional security systems can act as a strong visual deterrent against thieves. 6. Install a doorbell camera or CCTV at your home Doorbell cameras and CCTV systems are becoming increasingly popular as both a deterrent for car crime and to catch thieves. Make sure you invest in one that has a night vision mode and crisp HD resolution. Motion-sensing driveway lighting can also be a strong deterrent. 7. If you have a garage, use it! If you have a garage, try to make sure there is enough room for your car to fit into it, rather than using it for storage for all types of household clutter. If you have multiple vehicles, almost prioritise the garage for the one of highest value - and park another car in front of the garage door as an extra precaution. And if you have electric garage doors, do not keep the transponder inside the vehicle, such as in the glovebox. Victims have subsequently found this to be the reason for their property being burgled. 8. Think about where and how you park overnight Most car thefts take place under the cloak of darkness, so this is the most important time to consider how secure your vehicle is. If you don't have a garage but do have a driveway, always park tactically. For instance, if you have a big driveway, park the car sideways to so any thief will need to manoeuvre it. If your driveway is smaller, park facing your house to increase the chances of you being alerted to the lights coming on. And park with the wheels turned on full lock to extend the time it takes for criminals to make a getaway. Even consider parking another less desirable car in front (or behind) your vehicle to prevent easy removal. Those with driveways can also purchase lockable barriers to restrict access - and experts advise that a car cover is often a deterrent due to the time it takes to remove one and will look suspicious to neighbours and passersby. If you do not have off-street parking, try to leave your car in a well-lit area - ideally with CCTV monitoring - and in a position that makes it difficult for a thief to move quickly. Ken German tells us that some motorists are being extra inventive in their bid to protect their cars. Some previous victims are leaving mannequins in the driver's seat to dissuade unwanted visitors. 9. Check repair centre and bodyshop accreditation to avoid key cloning If you need to leave your key with a garage or bodyshop, you should check that they are a member of an accredited code of practice/professional standard such as The Motor Ombudsman or The British Parking Association's Park Mark scheme. This should reduce your chances of falling victim of key cloning. Also, if you have purchased your vehicle second-hand with only one working key, visit an approved repair centre to have the missing key(s) deleted and add a spare as soon as possible. 10. Consider a dashcam or a car with theft alerts Dashcams have grown in popularity in recent years, with motorists primarily using them to prove they were not at fault in a crash. They also act as a great theft deterrent. This is because many of these devices will also record suspicious activity around your car is parked up and you're not in it. However, make sure you buy one that uploads videos to cloud storage rather than saving it only a memory stick in the dash cam - because you will also lose this if your car is stolen. Some modern vehicles now offer 'parking mode', which also can also detect and record movement when parked. This can be used as supporting evidence by your insurer and the police. Many of these alerts will be powered via a smartphone app, so ensure you've activated the feature and turned on notifications. 11. Always wipe stored info from a car before you sell it Some vehicle apps and connected systems can provide the previous owner with access. If permissions remain active, ensure that all permissions and data linked to the previous owner are wiped. 12. 'Locust' thieves might strike twice A new wave of 'locust thieves' exist today who strip cars whilst they're parked at the side of the road and even outside owners' homes. Many people have woken up to find wheels, bonnets and grills and even doors missing from their cars rendering them undriveable. This is because these parts are becoming more valuable since the pandemic with factory closures and slowdowns meaning some components are not as readily available from manufacturers as pre-Covid. For instance, a Porsche headlight can be worth up to £1,000 today, which has driven a rise in these parts being stolen. Wing mirrors for top of the range vehicles are also easy-to-steal high-value components. Ken German warns that falling victim to locust thieves might not be the end of the story. He says owners who have had parts pinched from their car should check around and under the vehicle to ensure thieves have not fitted a tracking device so they can track when the motor is not being used and return at a later date to attempt to steal it. 13. Be aware of scam crash tactics deployed to steal cars While carjacking still exists today, it is not as prevalent in the UK as it is in some other countries, such as South Africa. That said, if you are in a high value vehicle you would be wise to drive with the doors locked in traffic. Also drive defensively when in a queue leaving enough space in front for you to get out of a tight spot should you need to. If your vehicle is bumped from behind, wait to pull over and find somewhere safe where there are people. If you're suspicious don't unlock the door and call the police.
