Paris, Aug 25 (IANS): A road race turned to tragedy in France Sunday when three people were killed by a racing car veering off course during practice.

The accident occurred around 11 a.m., just before the start of a 1.5 km hill-climb rally from Tillac to Laas, 110 km west of Haute-Garonne department's capital city of Toulouse.

Police said the victims, whose identities have not yet been confirmed, are two marshals, aged in their sixties, of the event organised by the Automobile Sports Association Armagnac Bigorre, and a freelance photographer in his forties.

According to preliminary investigation, the driver, who was unhurt in the accident, lost control of his vehicle, a Simca Mille Rally 2 1970, during practice.

He was third of the way leaving Tillac to Laas, while volunteers were finishing their set markup and barriers.

The event, which took place over two days Saturday and Sunday and was in its 13th edition, was cancelled after the accident.