French Dakar rally driver out of coma as team say bomb caused blast

Saudi authorities accused of trying to cover up cause of explosion which left Philippe Boutron badly injured

A French rally driver who was seriously injured in an explosion in Jeddah last week has emerged from a coma, while his team have claimed Saudi Arabian authorities are trying to cover up the cause of the incident.

Philippe Boutron sustained serious injuries in the blast outside a hotel near Jeddah's international airport a week ago. The explosion damaged a support vehicle he was driving for the Sodicars Racing team that was competing in the Dakar rally.