Quote from [URL]http://www.thruxton.f9.co.uk/henri/henri_career.htm[/URL] : [quote]On the 7th kilometer of the eighteenth stage, the Lancia inexplicably left the road and plunged down a ravine, landing on its roof. The aluminium fuel tank, ruptured by the trees as the car rolled down the cliff-face, exploded. Clouds of thick black smoke pinpointed the accident, but there were no marshalls or spectators nearby to lend assistance. Still strapped in their seats and with no means of escape, Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto burned to death. No one knew of the accident at the stage finish, and it was only when the Lancia hadn't emerged from the competitive section on schedule, did the team realise that something was amiss. It wasn't until the next crew through explained about the black smoke and fire seven kilometers into the stage, did everyone understand that there had been an accident involving Henri's Lancia. But it was too late. By the time the emergency services reached the scene, they were faced by an inferno. The trees in which the car had come to rest were so dry, that they added to the flames, fanned by the breeze. The remains of the car was so charred, that the Lancia engineers and technicians couldn't physically determine the cause of the crash. So, exactly how Henri Toivonen and his co-driver, Sergio Cresto died, is still a mystery to this day. Was there a problem with the car, or was it that Henri's ill health caused him to lose control of an extremely powerful and car on some of the most treacherous roads in Europe? We will never know, though Henri himself admitted that even he didn't really know how to drive the S4 Maybe we wouldn't want to know... It would only increase the pain caused by such a tragic loss to the sport of rallying. [/quote] Makes F1 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 1976 seem comparatively safe...and they axed that race for similar reasons. Michael.
