The second edition of the Rallye du Vallon de Marcillac, based in the municipality of Marcillac, department of Aveyron, southern France, was stopped after a fatal accident that resulted in the death of a competitor.

The accident occurred around 09h20 on Sunday, 26 March 2000, shortly after the start of the 7.3-kilometer first special stage, Saint-Christophe - Nauviale. While travelling at high speed along a straight line, just before the turn of La Borie farm, the Peugeot 205 GTI #47 of Laurent Persec-Alban Ginesty went off the road in a slight slope. Persec braked hard trying frantically to regain control of the car, which slid on the gravel, somersaulted on the left side and crashed into an electric pole on the driver's door, almost two meters above the ground.

It is believed that the inexperience of the young amateur driver played a significant role in the accident. The emergency services were quickly alerted and reached the place of accident within a few minutes. They found Laurent Persec, 24-year-old from Rodelle, Aveyron, France, who was killed on the spot. His co-driver Alban Ginesty, 25, of Laissac, Aveyron, was seriously injured but conscious. He was taken to Decazeville hospital.

As a result of the tragedy, the rally was immediately stopped and the remainder of the day's special stages were canceled. The same stretch of the first special stage was the scene other accidents. Shortly before Laurent Persec's crash, two rally cars missed he turn of La Borie farm, ending on a field, several meters off the road.

R.I.P