During the Arivonimamo run, the former Smart Drag car of the late champion John Elite veered off the track and struck a lighting technician and a timekeeper.
A spectacular accident caused panic during the second round of the Madagascar Run Championship yesterday morning in Arivonimamo.
At 10:25 AM, the Smart Drag, a legendary car formerly driven by the late champion John Elite and recently acquired by Ricardo Randriananja, went off the track in the final 200 meters of its run. The vehicle did not roll over, but it hit a truck parked near the finish line that was carrying sound and lighting equipment, before coming to a stop under a tent where a lighting technician and a timekeeper were located.
Both men were seriously injured and rushed to the hospital. A cameraman was also slightly injured. The driver, shocked but conscious, remained trapped in his vehicle for nearly fifteen minutes before being extracted. He was then taken to the hospital for examinations.
The Smart Drag, which had been completely overhauled before the race, suffered significant damage. Its front and rear right wheels were torn off, the steering wheel was broken, and its fiberglass body was largely destroyed. The rear engine appears to have been spared, but the right side of the vehicle is totaled. The race was interrupted for an hour to secure the perimeter and clear the debris before resuming around 11:30 AM.
This accident occurred just one week after the announcement of the Smart Drag’s return to the Arivonimamo track. This racing machine had made history in the run by accumulating victories under the guidance of John Elite. For Ricardo Randriananja, a member of the MSA club, this was his first participation behind the wheel of this car, which had been absent from competitions for several years.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-13 21:50:18 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/arivonimamo-une-sortie-de-route-fait.html