Formula E 2016: Death-defying stunt sees stuntman Damien Walters backflip over a moving car ahead of Paris ePrix

Damien Walters performed the stunt at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City

Formula E is used to setting firsts, given it is the first and only FIA championship that runs entirely on electricity and will hit the streets of Paris for – you guessed it – the first time this weekend in the form of the Paris ePrix.

With that in mind, Formula E teamed up with world-renowned stuntman, free-runner and gymnast, Damien Walters, to perform the first ever blind-car dodge.

What’s a blind-car dodge? Well, it’s pretty impressive to say the least. Standing on the start/finish straight of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City – scene of last month’s Mexico City ePrix – Walters leaps high into the air and performs a backflip.

While that may not sound like the most incredible thing you’ve seen, Walters manages to perform the stunt as a Formula E car flashes past beneath him at 60mph, with the stuntman narrowly avoiding hitting the car with both his feet and his head.

Walters has worked as a stuntman in films for the likes of Daniel Craig (Skyfall) and Michael Fassbender (Assassin’s Creed), while the driver of the car, Alistair Whitton, has also featured on the big screen in films such as The Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall, and Jason Bourne.

“I’ve done loads of dangerous stunts in my career, but I’ve got to admit that I’ve never been as nervous as I was for this one,” said Walters. “I’m thrilled with how it worked out though, and it’s a credit to Formula E that they gave us the opportunity to do something so dramatic!”

Watch the full video below:

With five races remaining in the championship – including two in London to wrap up the season in July – Lucas Di Grassi leads Sebastian Buemi in the drivers’ championship by just one point, with Britain’s Sam Bird in third 30 points off the lead.