Olivier Lavorel dead: Isle of Man TT Sidecar racer dies four months after crash that also killed team-mate Cesar Chanal
SIDECAR racer Olivier Lavorel has died from his injuries – four months after the Isle of Man TT crash that killed his team-mate Cesar Chanal.
Event organisers initially wrongly identified the pair – confusing them both for the other – following the tragedy in the first Sidecar race of TT 2022.
The two French newcomers to TT were airlifted to hospital after the first-lap crash at Ago’s Leap.
An inquest into Chanal’s death confirmed the men had been wearing the wrong dog tags, leading to the error in identifying them.
Lavorel was 35 at the time of the accident and Chanal 33.
A statement from TT chiefs said organisers were “deeply saddened” to learn of Lavorel’s death.
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They added: “Olivier sustained serious injuries in an incident during the opening lap.
“The accident occurred at Ago’s Leap, just under one mile into the Course, and also claimed the life of Olivier’s team mate, César Chanel.
“Olivier was airlifted to hospital in Liverpool before being transferred to a hospital in France in late June where his treatment continued.
“Both Olivier and César were newcomers to the Isle of Man TT Races in 2022 but were an experienced pairing, taking numerous victories and podiums in the French F1 and F2 National Sidecar Championships.
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“Everyone at the Isle of Man TT Races passes on their deepest sympathy to Olivier’s family, friends and loved ones at this tragic time.”
Lavorel’s death is the sixth from the 2022 Isle of Man TT, equalling the event’s highest-ever total of fatalies in 1970.