Rally Bulgaria, a candidate event for next year's World Rally Championship, was canceled on Sunday morning after a fatal accident involving the car which Flavio Guglielmini was co-driving in. The Peugeot 207, driven by Switzerland's Brain Lavio, left the road on the seventh stage – the first test in the morning. The car hit a rock on the right-hand side and Guglielmini was reported to have died at the scene.
Lavio was taken to hospital in Velingrad, where he is reported to be in a stable condition with injuries to his thorax, abdomen, collarbone and knee. He is expected to be moved to hospital in Sofia for tests. The accident is being investigated by police from Pazardzhik.
This was the 40th running of the FIA European Rally Championship qualifier. Abarth Grande Punto driver Giandomenico Basso was leading at the time of the accident.
A decision on whether the Borovets-based event will qualify for a maiden World Rally Championship slot is expected in September.