Quoted by the Belgian news agency, Jean-Marc Fortin said that as he was driving over a dune, the car leapt and fell several meters in front.

“André has been taken to hospital with a back injury. It is unfortunate for André as he was doing very well in his first attempt at the Dakar”, Fortin added.

At the end of the third stage on Monday, Villas-Boas, with Ruben Faria as copilot, was in 43rd place.