A serious accident yesterday left the Peugeot Sport team in mourning during the last leg of the Wales Rally GB.
Markko Martin left the route shortly after the start of the second stage of the day and hit a tree on the right hand side of the car, mortally wounding his co-driver Michael Park.
Peugeot Sport’s Director, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, with the agreement of Mr. Frederic Saint-Geours, Managing Director of Peugeot, decided, as a sign of mourning, to withdraw the car of Marcus Gronholm – Timo Rautiainen.
Peugeot Automobiles and Peugeot Sport would like to express their feeling of extreme sadness and deep emotion to the family of Michael Park, known affectionately as Beef.
Jost Capito, Director, Ford TeamRS
On Ford's behalf, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Michael's family, friends and colleagues following Sunday's dreadful tragedy. During his time at Ford, 'Beef', as he was affectionately known to everyone in the sport, became a friend of us all. He was the utmost professional, but never lost sight of the fact that despite the intensity and pressures of his job, rallying was fun. He reached the very top level of his profession, but still retained close links with his many friends and colleagues at grass roots level, with whom he first developed a passion for the sport. He will be sadly missed by everyone within the Ford team and far beyond, and needless to say all of us are distraught at today's events.
Malcolm Wilson, Team Director, BP-Ford World Rally Team
On behalf of the BP-Ford World Rally Team, I would like to express our heartfelt sympathies to the family of Michael Park - his wife, Marie, and children William and Victoria. The reality and shock of the tragedy will take some time to sink in for all of us. During three seasons with Ford, Michael became part of the family. His ever cheerful and vibrant personality, even in the most adverse of circumstances, frequently lightened the tense atmosphere that often surrounds the WRC service park. He was rarely seen without a smile on his face and that's the way I will remember him. He learned his trade as a navigator and co-driver on local rallies and his path to the top of the sport was the result of nothing less than hard work. He forged a great partnership with Markko Märtin and Michael's first world rally victory in Greece in 2003 was a proud moment for him. I will always appreciate the help and assistance he gave to my son, Matthew, and his co-driver Scott Martin. When they started competing, his advice was invaluable and after their accident this year he encouraged and inspired them to get back in a rally car. Rallying has lost the ultimate professional and ambassador and we have all lost a true friend. He will be sadly missed.
