Switzerland's Brain Lavio was driving his Peugeot 207 through the seventh stage (Sestrimo) of Rally Bulgaria on Sunday morning – first stage of the day – when his car hit a rock on the right hand side of the road, causing it to spin around and later be projected into a tree. The impact seems to have been fatal for Guglielmini, who was declared dead at the scene.
Lavio, on the other hand, was immediately transported to the nearest hospital in Velingrad, where his situation was stabilized during the course of yesterday evening. Nevertheless, the medical report issued by the Bulgarian doctors show a plentitude of injuries to Lavio's thorax, abdomen, collarbone and knee.
According to the official site of the WRC, the Pazardzhik police is currently investigating the accident.
The 38-year-old from the seaside resort town of Marina di Pietrasanta, near Pisa on the west coast of Italy, had previously co-driven for Italian rally driver Giandomenico Basso before switching to reading notes for a few young rally drivers from 2004 onwards. Ironically enough, Basso was leading the Rally Bulgaria until the fatal crash which ended his former colleague's life.
Under the circumstances, Rally Bulgaria's place in next year's WRC calendar is in doubt. The decision is to be officially announced by the FIA in September this year.
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