The accident that claimed the lives of renowned French driver Maurice Nusbaumer, 46, and his co-driver Annie Gourdain, occurred during a special stage of the 1981 Rallye de la Baule, in Normandie region, department of Seine-Maritime, northern France.<br /><br />It happened on Sunday, 17 May 1981. The Alpine-Renault A310 V6 #6 driven by Nusbaumer went out of control after crashing into a stone which was lying on the roadside. The car went off the road, rolled over and burst into flames, its two occupants did not survive.<br /><br />Normandie driver Maurice Nusbaumer, was a well known and successful rallyman and an Alpine-Renault enthusiast. Nicknamed "Nus" by fans and friends, he was a real gentleman, an experienced sportsman and a successful enterpreuner, President of the Normandy League. He had his debut in 1964, driving his personal Citroën DS in regional rallies. Two years later he bought his first Alpine-Renault, a marque to which he would remain loyal during almost his whole career, competing in France and Belgium.<br /><br />Annie Gourdain had already raced as navigator alongside Nusbaumer. The pair finished seventh in the Rallye d'Ypres - also known as 24 Heures d'Ypres - in 1977, in an Alpine-Renault A110 1800.<br /><br />R.I.P
