Rowan Atkinson 'cheats death' as 240mph supercar hits tree then bursts into flames

Actor Rowan Atkinson cheated death last night after careering off the road in his 240mph supercar. The £650,000 McLaren F1 spun several times, smashing into a tree and ploughing into a road sign before catching fire on the opposite side of the carriageway.

The Mr Bean star, 56, pulled himself free from the wreck and was looked after by a passing motorist until emergency services arrived on the A605 at Haddon, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, at 7.30pm.

Scroll down for video of Rowan Atkinson on Top Gear...

Smash: Rowan Atkinson's £650,000 McLaren F1 spun several times, smashed into a tree and ploughed into a road sign before catching fire on the opposite side of the carriageway 

Accident: Emergency services rushed to the scene to check on Mr Atkinson who managed to free himself from the wreck

Firemen tackled the blaze and an ambulance crew took him to nearby Peterborough hospital where he was believed to be recovering last night.

It is not the first time the Blackadder star has crashed the supercar, which can sprint from 0-60mph in just three seconds.

 

In 1999, a year after buying it following the phenomenal success of his Mr Bean movie, he was in collision with a Rover Metro in Lancashire.

Recently appearing on BBC's Top Gear 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car', he listed the vast array of cars he currently owns, before setting the fastest lap in a time of 1min 42.2 sec.

Smash: Actor Rowan Atkinson cheated death after careering off the road in his 240mph McClaren F1 supercar, pictured here in 1998

Accident: The front of the car was wrecked in a previous collision with the rear of a Rover Metro in Lancashire, in October 1999

He beat comedian John Bishop who, in an earlier episode, notched up the time of 1.42.8.

TOP GEAR FASTEST LAPS:

Suzuki Liana (2002–2005)

1:46.7 – Ellen MacArthur
1:46.9 – Jimmy Carr
1:47.1 – Simon Cowell
Chevrolet Lacetti (2006–2010)
1:45.83 – Jay Kay
1:45.87 – Kevin McCloud
1:45.9 – Brian Johnson
Kia Cee'd (2010-present)
1:42.2 – Rowan Atkinson
1:42.8 – John Bishop
1:43.5 – Ross Noble

The segment, recorded at the Top Gear test track at the Dunsfold Aerodrome, Surrey, sees a guest driving a standard car in a bid to get the fastest lap.
A Suzuki Liana was used for the shows recorded between 2002 and 2005, and a Chevrolet Lacetti between 2006 and 2010.
Atkinson set the record in a Kia Cee'd.
In 1994, the British car magazine Autocar stated 'it has too much performance for the public road'.
But it added that it 'will be remembered as one of the great events in the history of the car, and it may possibly be the fastest production road car the world will ever see'.
Mr Atkinson, who has a passion for fast cars has written articles about different vehicles for specialist car magazines.

Though his collection of cars changes regularly, he also has a £125,000 Aston Martin Virage, a vintage Rolls-Royce, and an elderly Morris Traveller, which he regularly drives around the Oxfordshire village where he lives in a £1 million former rectory.

He also has a £2.5 million townhouse in Chelsea. Last night an East of England Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed the accident.
He said: 'A man has since been conveyed to hospital with minor injuries after the car he was driving left the road earlier this evening.'

In style: Rowan Atkinson's character Mr Bean has less of a passion for fast cars