Mathieu Baumel Explained

Mathieu Baumel (born 17 January 1976) is a French rally raid co-driver competing in the World Rally-Raid Championship. Alongside Nasser Al-Attiyah, he won the Dakar Rally five times, the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies four times, and the World Rally-Raid Championship twice.^{[1] [2]}

Baumel parted ways with Al-Attiyah after the 2024 Dakar Rally. He reunited with Guerlain Chicherit, with whom he ran the 2005 and 2006 Dakar Rallies, for the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal later that year, before joining Guillaume De Mévius at the X-raid Mini JCW Team.^{[3] [4]}

On 29 January 2025, Baumel was hit by a car whilst stopped to help the passengers of a broken down vehicle, later being placed into an induced coma.^{[5] [6]} Baumel also suffered severe leg injuries, resulting in the amputation of his right leg.^[7] Baumel survived the injuries, and returned to co-driving at the 2026 Dakar Rally alongside De Mévius. At the event's first stage, he became the first amputee to win a Dakar stage.^[8]

Notes and References

1. News: Nasser Al-Attiyah cruises to Toyota's first Dakar win. Speedacfe.com. 18 January 2019. 21 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190121085714/https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/01/18/nasser-al-attiyah-cruises-to-toyotas-first-dakar-win/. live.
2. Web site: Brunsdon . Stephen . 2023-01-15 . Why Al-Attiyah has cemented his place as a Dakar legend . 2025-01-31 . DirtFish . en-US.
3. News: Brunsdon. Stephen. Al-Attiyah's former navigator teams-up with W2RC rival. DirtFish. 21 March 2024. 5 August 2024.
4. News: New partnership of De Mévius and Baumel secure hard-earned victory in the punishing heat of Baja Spain Aragón. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 29 July 2024. 5 August 2024.
5. Web site: 2025-01-31 . Renversé par une voiture, le coureur auto des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Mathieu Baumel grièvement blessé . 2025-01-31 . www.laprovence.com . fr.
6. Web site: Brunsdon . Stephen . 2025-01-31 . Dakar winner Baumel seriously injured in road traffic collision . 2025-01-31 . DirtFish . en-US.
7. Web site: Baumel aims for Dakar return after losing his leg. February 16, 2025. February 16, 2025. Luke. Berry. dirtfish.com. Dirtfish, LLC..
8. Web site: Barry . Luke . 2026-01-05 . Baumel becomes first amputee to win a Dakar stage . 2026-01-06 . DirtFish . en-US.