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Britons quizzed on Gumball death | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Two British men have been questioned by police in Macedonia over a fatal crash during an international car rally. | Two British men have been questioned by police in Macedonia over a fatal crash during an international car rally. |
Nicholas Morley and Matthew McConville, from Gtr Manchester, were in a Porsche as part of the Gumball 3000 when they were in a collision with another car. | |
Vladimir Cepulyoski, 67, died from a heart attack after the crash on 2 May. | |
The Foreign office said Mr Morley had been released on bail, though his co-driver was never formally detained. The rally has been called off. | |
The Gumball 3000 - which costs £28,000 to enter - involves more than 100 cars driving 3,000 miles from London to Athens and back on public roads. | |
Mr Morley, 30, from Bowdon, Greater Manchester, and Mr McConville, 36, from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, were travelling on a road towards Kafasan - on the border with Albania - when the collision happened. | |
Mr Cepulyoski, from Macedonia, who was in the other car involved in the collision, was not taking part in the rally. | Mr Cepulyoski, from Macedonia, who was in the other car involved in the collision, was not taking part in the rally. |
We are always very, very focused on safety Michael Ross, former winner | We are always very, very focused on safety Michael Ross, former winner |
The Gumball rally has been a draw for the rich and famous for almost a decade, with entrants enjoying the thrill of their high-powered sports cars by day and lavish parties by night. | The Gumball rally has been a draw for the rich and famous for almost a decade, with entrants enjoying the thrill of their high-powered sports cars by day and lavish parties by night. |
But despite its playboy tag, former winner Michael Ross, an entrepreneur from London, said safety remained a top priority. | But despite its playboy tag, former winner Michael Ross, an entrepreneur from London, said safety remained a top priority. |
He said: "It is not a put your foot to the floor, go as fast as you can event. You are going through countries where roads and signage are unbelievably difficult to follow. It is challenging. | He said: "It is not a put your foot to the floor, go as fast as you can event. You are going through countries where roads and signage are unbelievably difficult to follow. It is challenging. |
"Some people choose to drive fast, some choose to enjoy the scenery. | "Some people choose to drive fast, some choose to enjoy the scenery. |
"Organisers of Gumball have tried to exclude people they feel are irresponsible which is the proper way of dealing with it. They have taken that seriously over the years. | "Organisers of Gumball have tried to exclude people they feel are irresponsible which is the proper way of dealing with it. They have taken that seriously over the years. |
"We are always very, very focused on safety." | "We are always very, very focused on safety." |
'Deepest sympathies' | 'Deepest sympathies' |
Founder Maximillion Cooper revealed in a statement that the rally was ending in Bratislava on Thursday night. | Founder Maximillion Cooper revealed in a statement that the rally was ending in Bratislava on Thursday night. |
"As the organisers of the rally we feel that it should be stopped as a mark of respect to Vladimir Cepulyoski who died today after an accident involving one of the participating drivers," it read. | "As the organisers of the rally we feel that it should be stopped as a mark of respect to Vladimir Cepulyoski who died today after an accident involving one of the participating drivers," it read. |
"On behalf of Gumball 3000, we once again extend our deepest sympathies to his family and we are doing everything we can for them. | "On behalf of Gumball 3000, we once again extend our deepest sympathies to his family and we are doing everything we can for them. |
"This is the first time anything like this has happened in nine years of travelling through over 40 countries with thousands of drivers." | "This is the first time anything like this has happened in nine years of travelling through over 40 countries with thousands of drivers." |
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that two Britons have been involved in a road traffic accident. | A Foreign Office spokeswoman 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." | "We have been in contact and are providing appropriate assistance." |
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