Am 02.05. kam es in Mazedonien offenbar zu einem schweren Unfall, bei dem anscheinend ein Porsche und ein anderer Verkehrsteilnehmer kollidierten. Dabei starb nach Meldungen auf GTspirit.com ein Mazedonier. Aus einer Pressemeldung von Gumball:
„An adult Macedonian male aged 67 died in hospital from a heart attack following the incident where the two cars collided. The participants in the rally were held in custody last night with a preliminary court judgement expected today.“
Nachdem sich die Gumball-Offiziellen fast 24 Stunden komplett bedeckt hielten, sagten sie den Gumball 2007 ab.
Hier eine offizielle Stellungnahme von Gumball-Chef Maximillion Cooper:
Issued by Maximillion Cooper on behalf of The Gumball 3000 Rally – 22.30 CET / 03 May 2007
Following our earlier release reporting yesterday’s accident – As a sign of respect we have decided that this year’s Gumball 3000 Rally will not travel any further and will end in Bratislava this evening, May 3rd 2007.
As the organisers of the rally we feel that it should be stopped as a mark of respect to Vladimir Cepulyoski who died today after an accident involving one the participating drivers.
We are very saddened by what has happened and feel that it would be wrong to continue. On behalf of Gumball 3000, we once again extend our deepest sympathies to his family and we are doing everything we can for them.
This is the first time anything like this has happened in 9 years of travelling through over 40 countries with 1000’s of drivers and it is with deep regret that I make this announcement.
Maximillion Cooper
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