Olivier Lavorel, a French Sidecar contestant who was seriously hurt in an accident at the 2022 Isle of Man TT, has passed away as a result of his wounds.
Lavorel was involved in a collision that claimed the life of the team’s driver, Cesar Chanel, on the opening lap of the Sidecar race of the 2022 TT.
Both were rushed to the hospital, but when word of one of them passing away initially surfaced, Lavorel and Chanel’s identities were confused since they had switched places with their identity tags.
Prior to the Wednesday of race week, it had been incorrectly stated that Lavorel had passed away.
Following the event, Lavorel was taken to a hospital in Liverpool for treatment before being sent to a hospital in France to continue his care.
Tragically, Lavorel passed away from his wounds. He is now the sixth competitor to pass away at the 2022 TT, joining the solo racers Mark Purslow and Davy Morgan as well as the father-and-son Sidecar team Roger and Bradley Stockton.
Six competitors have passed away at the TT for the first time since 1970. The Isle of Man TT Races issued the following statement in response to the passing of French sidecar participant Olivier Lavorel from Sillingy.
“Olivier sustained serious injuries in an incident during the opening lap of the first Sidecar Race of the 2022 Isle of Man TT Races on the Saturday 4 June.
“The accident occurred at Ago’s Leap, just under one mile into the course, and also claimed the life of Olivier’s team mate, Cesar Chanel.
“Olivier was airlifted to hospital in Liverpool before being transferred to a hospital in France in late June where his treatment continued.
“Both Olivier and Cesar were newcomers to the Isle of Man TT Races in 2022 but were an experienced pairing, taking numerous victories and podiums in the French F1 and F2 National Sidecar Championships.
“Everyone at the Isle of Man TT Races passes on their deepest sympathy to Olivier’s family, friends and loved ones at this tragic time.”
