The accident that claimed the lives of renowned French driver Maurice Nusbaumer, 46, and his co-driver Annie Gourdain, occurred during a special stage of the 1981 Rallye de la Baule, in Normandie region, department of Seine-Maritime, northern France.
It happened on Sunday, 17 May 1981. The Alpine-Renault A310 V6 #6 driven by Nusbaumer went out of control after crashing into a stone which was lying on the roadside. The car went off the road, rolled over and burst into flames, its two occupants did not survive.
Normandie driver Maurice Nusbaumer, was a well known and successful rallyman and an Alpine-Renault enthusiast. Nicknamed "Nus" by fans and friends, he was a real gentleman, an experienced sportsman and a successful enterpreuner, President of the Normandy League. He had his debut in 1964, driving his personal Citroën DS in regional rallies. Two years later he bought his first Alpine-Renault, a marque to which he would remain loyal during almost his whole career, competing in France and Belgium.
Annie Gourdain had already raced as navigator alongside Nusbaumer. The pair finished seventh in the Rallye d'Ypres - also known as 24 Heures d'Ypres - in 1977, in an Alpine-Renault A110 1800.
R.I.P
