Dakar Rally Champion Dies in Tragic Morocco Desert Challenge Collision

Lichtleuchter’s car, 46 years old, was hit by another vehicle traveling at 140 km/h and unable to see them through the dust. The impact was so violent that their car caught fire almost immediately, killing Lichtleuchter on the spot.

With Peter Jerie, Lichtleuchter won the Desafío Guarani in Argentina in 2015 as well as the Dakar Series championship before being recruited by the Toyota Auto Body team for 2016 and the following years. The Miura/Lichtleuchter duo won the T2 production vehicle category of the Dakar Rally in 2018, 2021 and 2022.

Marco Piana, owner of the Xtremeplus team, described the deceased as a "dear friend who has been part of the Xtremeplus family for twenty years", adding that the world of off-road sports has lost an iconic figure. Akira Miura, who worked with Lichtleuchter for many years, expressed his sadness and grief at this loss, describing the driver as his "best friend and like a brother".