Fiery exit for Jourdain

Date published : 21 Aug 2010 - 11:50:24

Former Champ Car race winner Michel Jourdain has retired from Rally Germany after his Mitsubishi Lancer caught fire on the last of the morning's stages.The Mexican former race driver is in his first season in the World Rally Championship and the Trier-based event is his first ever asphalt rally, but he has gone out n dramatic style. A statement from the rally organisers said of Jourdain: "The car caught fire. [The] driver and co-driver are alright. Due to the high risk of a forest fire, several fire engines were required on site."Jourdain's wasn't the only Mitsubishi to suffer a fire, with Dutch crew Jasper Van den Heuvel and Martine Kolman being hospitalised after their Lancer went off the road at the end of the 29-mile Panzerplatte test.Another statement on Van den Heuvel said: "Due to a technical failure, the car skidded after the finish line and before the stage stop, and caught fire. Driver and co-driver suffered burn injuries. They may be taken to a special hospital in Ludwigshafen or Homburg."This afternoon's re-run of the Panzerplatte test is expected to go ahead as normal.