By Oscar Marchandise, Year 12
The story of 49-year-old Mathieu Baumel is absolutely breathtaking, going from being one of the best co-pilots in the racing world to living with a life-changing disability in the span of a year. He embodies resilience and determination, transforming what could have been a life-ending tragedy into a story of extraordinary perseverance.
For many years, Mathieu Baumel sat beside world-class driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, guiding him through races, mastering the field, and leading him to victory. His list of achievements is impressive: at age 49, he has won four Rallye Dakars in 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2023, with his fervent teammate Al-Attiyah. To this, he adds multiple World Cups in off-road rallying and two World Rally Raid Championships, demonstrating his dominance and making him one of the most decorated co-pilots in rally racing. He was clearly at his peak and not ready to stop.
But on January 29th, 2025, his life was turned upside down. While assisting a car on the side of the road, another vehicle collided with him violently, sending him to the hospital. After waking up, he recalls seeing pieces of his legs and trying to gather them while lying on the ground. He then had to endure eight hours of surgery, two days in a coma, and two cardiac arrests, which ultimately led to the amputation of his left leg. During these horrific days, Mathieu Baumel says he came face-to-face with death—describing an illuminated tunnel signaling the end of life. When he woke up, he asked his wife, “Is it time for me to go, or should I fight?” But, resilient and determined as always, he chose to fight. A new chapter began—the start of his path to recovery.
For Mathieu Baumel, missing the next edition of the Dakar was out of the question. Nothing could stop his dedication and desire to do what he loves most: race. Only two months after his devastating accident, he began rehabilitation and set his sights on Dakar 2026. He explains that relearning to walk with a prosthetic leg felt as though he were learning to walk for the first time, illustrating the immense challenge faced by anyone with an amputated limb. After just five months and thanks to his phenomenal mindset and tenacity, Mathieu Baumel was out of the hospital and back home, preparing to fulfill his ambition and return to the racing trails.
To conclude, Mathieu Baumel never expected his life to face such a dramatic challenge, but he has proven that any obstacle is surmountable, even when death is close. His jaw-dropping resilience and relentlessness have shaped who he is today, though he emphasizes that his inner circle has been essential to his success. Today, he is able to race again thanks to a remarkable and trusting partner who looks beyond his disability and sees him as the exceptional human being and the spectacular co-pilot that he is.
