Fatal crash causes cancellation of Gumball 3000 rally
Lee Glendinning
Friday May 4, 2007
The Guardian

The Gumball 3000 rally was cancelled last night after two British drivers were involved in a fatal road accident in Macedonia during the race.

Nicholas Morley, 30, and Matthew McConville, 32, were driving a Porsche 911 in the 3,000 mile race across Europe when they collided with 67-year-old Vladimir Cepuljoski and his wife Margarita, near Struga, 120 miles from Skopje yesterday.

Mr Cepuljoski, who was not taking part in the race, died of a heart attack in hospital.

he Britons were arrested on provisional charges of endangering traffic and abandoning an accident victim, a police spokesman said, which could lead to a one-year prison sentence.

"Two British citizens left the scene of the accident," a Macedonian police spokesman, said. "Shortly afterwards, border authorities found them in another [vehicle] at the Qafasan border crossing with Albania."

Organisers of the race, dubbed the "world's maddest, fastest and most eccentric", cancelled the event a day early in Bratislava. "As the organisers of the rally we feel that it should be stopped as a mark of respect to Vladimir Cepuljoski who died today after an accident involving one of the participating drivers," Maximillion Cooper, the founder of the rally, said.

"We are very saddened by what has happened and feel that it would be wrong to continue ... This is the first time anything like this has happened in nine years of travelling through over 40 countries with thousands of drivers and it is with deep regret that I make this announcement."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that two Britons have been involved in a road traffic accident. We have been in contact and are providing appropriate assistance."

The Gumball 3000, frequented by the rich and famous, was created by ex-model Cooper eight years ago when he invited 50 of his friends and acquaintances to take part in a race. This year's events was to pass through 16 countries before ending in London on Saturday.

With a £28,000 entrance fee and a celebration at Hugh Hefner's house for those who complete the event, the race has attracted high profile spectators such as Kate Moss and Guy Ritchie as well as participants including model Jodie Kidd and actor Adrien Brody. Kidd met her now estranged husband, internet entrepreneur Aidan Butler, on the 2004 rally and the couple were engaged eight weeks later.

This year's drivers are said to include model Caprice, Skins actor Danny Dyer and Jamiroquai's Jay Kay.