Amputee Dakar Veteran Mathieu Baumel Returns to Rally After Near-Fatal Crash

Mathieu Baumel, the Andorran co-driver who has secured four Dakar Rally titles alongside Nasser Al-Attiyah, is set to return to the event less than a month from its start, marking a remarkable comeback just 10 months after a near-fatal accident that led to the amputation of his right leg.

The crash occurred on 30 January during the Rallye Historique de Montecarlo, leaving Baumel fighting for his life with his heart stopping and both legs severely damaged. Conscious at the scene, he gave instructions while prioritising his family's future amid uncertainty over whether he would keep one leg, both or none. Doctors induced a coma post-surgery as they weighed options. Baumel chose amputation over years of uncertain repairs, opting for a prosthetic that would allow a swifter return to rallying—at age 50, he calculated that waiting until 60 risked ending his career.

Hospital recovery stripped his muscle mass and focus, but relentless mental determination drove progress. Discharged from rehab in mid-July, he tested a rally car by month's end, enduring pain but confirming viability. In early September—seven months post-accident—he competed in a small rally with pilot Guillaume de Mévius, finishing second while battling for victory and mastering roadbook navigation. A recent event in Saudi Arabia, mimicking Dakar conditions, fine-tuned cockpit adjustments like prosthetic placement and a new seat.

Now partnering de Mévius in an X-Raid Mini, Baumel views starting the Dakar on 3 January in Yanbu as a personal triumph—the first time an amputee athlete will contest at elite level with a top car. Daily life demands more energy for simple tasks, and mechanical issues like tyre changes will cost time, but he expects an emotional podium moment before focusing fully.

Goals are measured: finish the 15-day race, win a stage or two, and aim for a top-five overall—without pressure for the title. Passion fuels him; the Dakar's daily 300-500km desert ordeals and problem-solving remain irresistible after 20 years. Everyday challenges, from cycling to winter skiing in Andorra, test new prosthetics, with full left-leg recovery expected by next summer.

"It's a new life stage to adapt to," Baumel said, grateful for choosing to stay after glimpsing the brink. "I'm not thrilled, but it's good to continue, more or less as before."