The French have a reputation for their unique flair, and Pascal Dragotto exemplifies this most daringly.
Dragotto is not your average stunt driver. He works for the Delegation for Road Safety and Traffic (DSCR) in France. His wife, Laurence, also works in automobile risk, making their family’s commitment to crash testing and safety a full-time affair. Their son, Kevin, naturally joined the family business, bringing a dream of his come true: crashing a new Citroën into an old one at a breakneck speed of 68 miles per hour (110 kph).
This stunt, detailed in a YouTube video entirely in French, required a year of meticulous planning. Despite the language barrier, the essence of the feat is clear through translation and multiple camera angles. The event was Kevin’s dream, inspired by a crash he witnessed at a stunt show with his dad when he was ten. Now eighteen, Kevin finally saw his dream come true.
The father-son duo orchestrated the crash between a vintage 1968 Citroën DS, acquired in a dilapidated state for 800 Euros, and a 2010 Citroën DS3, generously donated for the occasion. This stunt wasn’t merely for kicks—it highlighted the advancements in vehicle safety, particularly how modern cars, like the Citroën DS3, absorb impacts compared to their older counterparts.
As the DS3 barreled through the DS, it sliced through the older vehicle like “a bread knife to a French baguette.” The DS was already in poor condition, missing seats and a steering wheel, which were either removed or absent at purchase. However, the DS3 was prepped for safety with installed roll bars, Recaro racing seats, safety harnesses, and a safety net behind the windshield. Pascal and Kevin wore full-coverage masks and racing suits, while emergency responders stood by, and spectators watched from a safe distance on a rooftop.
Father and son walked away without a scratch, though the adrenaline left them a bit shaken. The DS3, now in serious need of repair, might end up being sold for parts.
Pascal Dragotto’s bold stunts keep challenging safety limits, leaving everyone curious about their next daring crash test.
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