On Saturday there was a tragic incident at the Hessisches Bergland Rally in which co-driver Nina Becker was killed. The 43-year-old athlete died in a hospital from her serious injuries.

The accident occurred on the first special stage of the event, which was held as part of the German Rally Cup. Becker started with driver Sebastian Schemmann in a Ford Fiesta Rally4. On the opening test, the vehicle left the track and crashed into a tree.

Schemmann’s life is not in danger

After the impact, the rescue chain was immediately set in motion. Both occupants were rescued from the wreckage. A rescue helicopter took the injured to a nearby clinic.

Becker died there from her serious injuries. Schemmann is still being treated as an inpatient, but according to the organizers his life is not in danger.

The news of the co-pilot’s death led to the immediate cancellation of the event in northern Hesse. The rally center was in Malsfeld-Ostheim, from where the teams started the second round of the 2026 DRC season.

Albert von Thurn und Taxis was also involved in an accident

Nina Becker was a well-known personality in the German rally scene. She served as the first chairwoman of the Motor Sport Club Emstal eV. In the series organization’s official statement on the tragedy, her commitment was honored: “She lived for her family and her motorsport. German rallying has lost a committed motorsport athlete, but also a friend.”

A serious accident at the Rebenland Rally in Austria on Friday, in which Albert von Thurn und Taxis was involved, was less serious. During the fourth special stage, his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 left the road and fell around 50 meters down a slope.

After the accident, von Thurn und Taxis and passenger Jara Hain complained of back pain and were taken to hospitals for an examination, but have since been able to leave. Von Thurn und Taxis was champion of the ADAC GT Masters in 2010 and switched from circuit racing to rallying a few years ago.