Olivier Lavorel, pictured during qualifying, was taking part in the TT races for the first time in 2022
A French competitor has died following a crash during the first sidecar race at the 2022 Isle of Man TT races.
Passenger Olivier Lavorel, 35, was involved in an incident at Ago’s Leap during the opening lap of the race.
Driver Cesar Chanel remains in a critical condition and has been airlifted to Aintree Hospital in Liverpool, event organisers confirmed.
Welsh rider Mark Purslow died earlier this week after an accident during qualifying for the TT races.
Both Lavorel, from Sillingy, and Chanel were newcomers to the event on the Mountain Course.
In a statement, organisers said: “The Isle of Man TT Races pass on their deepest sympathy to Olivier’s family, friends and loved ones, and our thoughts and best wishes are with Cesar at this time.”
Although new to the TT, the pair have been regular competitors in the French F1 and F2 National Sidecar Championships, recording several podium finishes.
The race was red-flagged following the incident, which took place less than a mile from the start line between the bottom of Bray Hill and Quarterbridge.
The remainder of the day’s schedule was abandoned as a result.
The sidecar race was the second scheduled for the day following the six-lap Superbike race, which saw Peter Hickman take the chequered flag.
The races are the first to be held around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course since the coronavirus pandemic led to two years of cancellations.