Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen’s father, suffers rollover crash in Belgian rally

Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen’s father, suffers rollover crash in Belgian rally

Former Formula One driver Jos Verstappen, father of reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen, was involved in a frightening rollover crash during the Rallye de Wallonie in Belgium—but escaped without injury.

The 54-year-old Dutchman was competing in the popular rally event when his Škoda rally car lost control and veered off the road, reportedly striking a tree before flipping over. The violent impact caused extensive damage to the vehicle and forced Verstappen and his co-driver to retire immediately from the race.

The incident occurred during one of the rally’s special stages, where narrow roads and high speeds often leave little margin for error. According to event organizers, Verstappen’s car rolled after the collision, scattering debris across the stage and bringing his race to an abrupt end.

Despite the severity of the crash, both Verstappen and his co-driver walked away unharmed. Officials confirmed shortly afterward that “the crew is OK, but the car is badly damaged”, highlighting both the danger of the accident and the effectiveness of modern rally safety systems.

Eyewitness reports and local media suggested that Verstappen lost control while navigating a turn, causing the car to hit a tree before overturning. The dramatic nature of the crash raised immediate concerns, but those fears were quickly eased when confirmation emerged that neither occupant sustained injuries.

Verstappen later reassured fans that he was “all good,” underlining what many have described as a fortunate escape given the scale of the incident.

Tragedy at the Šumava Rally! Passenger Alena Krejčíková died after the Accident

Tragedy at the Šumava Rally! Passenger Alena Krejčíková died after the accident

Czech kart driver Alena Krejčíková died in a fatal accident during the opening training for the 2024 Šumava Rally. He was seriously injured and later pronounced dead by race organizers and local police officer Ondřej Hodan. He was 41 years old.

Alena Krejčíková drove a Subaru Impreza Sti with driver Jaroslav Krejčík. He was 41 years old and the car was driven by Jaroslav Krejcik. According to social media users, Alena Krecjckova was a charming and humble woman with a great passion for sports and campaigns. Many of her loved ones shared heartfelt tributes to the woman.

As a result, the rally organizers immediately canceled the remaining two stages of the race and published detailed information about this Kolar on Facebook. They also informed rally enthusiasts and fans that they would decide on the continuation of the race after consulting with participants and analyzing other factors.

The accident occurred near the village of Strážov and was filmed by a bystander a few meters away. It seems clear that the driver left the parking lot for unknown reasons and the case is being investigated by local police, said Ondřej Hodan. The car appears to be pulling hard and driving deep into the opposite fields, and spectators are trying to find something safe.

On the other hand, according to the speaker of the Šumava meeting, Mária Svobodová, the driver was fatally injured and was quickly transported by ambulance to the Pilsen - Lochotín University Hospital, where, however, he was unable to continue his fight for his life and succumbed to the consequences of his injuries in the hospital. The medical staff did their best, but all efforts were in vain.

About eleven years ago, during the meeting in Příbram in October 2013, the card reader Jan Jinderle junior suffered the same fate and was killed.

Tragédie na Rallye Šumava: Zemřela spolujezdkyně Alena Krejčíková po vážné nehodě