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F3 driver Floersch fractures spine after huge airborne crash

November 19, 2018 13:51 IST

Race personnel and pit crew are seen at the accident site after Sophia Floersch, a German driver of Van Amersfoort Racing flew over the barriers and crashed into a photographers' bunker at high speed, during a Formula Three race at the Macau Grand Prix, in Macau, China, on Sunday

IMAGE: Race personnel and pit crew are seen at the accident site after Sophia Floersch, a German driver of Van Amersfoort Racing flew over the barriers and crashed into a photographers' bunker at high speed, during a Formula Three race at the Macau Grand Prix, in Macau, China, on Sunday. Photograph: CNS via Reuters/Mai Shangmin

Germany's 17-year-old Formula Three driver Sophia Floersch has sustained a spinal fracture following a huge accident at the Macau Grand Prix, her team said on Sunday.

The Van Amersfoort Racing driver lost control into the Lisboa bend before flying over the barriers and into a photographers' bunker at high speed.

"Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine but will be going into surgery tomorrow morning," Floersch wrote on Twitter.

 

"Thanks to the @fia and @hwaag_official @MercedesAMGF1 who are taking great care of me. Thanks to everybody for the supporting messages. Update soon."

Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi, who Floersch crashed into, was taken to hospital with back pain.

Race organisers confirmed two photographers and a marshal were also in hospital.

Pole-sitter Daniel Ticktum was leading the race when it was stopped.

FIA promises probe into Macau aerial crash

International motorsports chief Jean Todt has promised the governing FIA will investigate Sunday's horrific aerial crash at the Macau Formula Three Grand Prix which left 17-year-old German driver Sophia Floersch with a spinal fracture.

Floersch was catapulted off the track into a photographers' bunker after hitting the back of one car and shunted over another while travelling at more than 275 kilometres per hour (171 mph) on the tight street circuit.

The teenager was conscious when taken to hospital in the former Portuguese colony from where she tweeted that she was "fine" and would undergo surgery on Monday.

"After the serious incident today in Macau the FIA is mobilized to help those involved and analyze what happened," International Motorsport Federation (FIA) president Todt tweeted.

"We will monitor the situation and make the necessary conclusions."

Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi, who Floersch hit after the initial impact, was also taken to hospital complaining of back pain but the Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee said in a statement said he had been discharged after treatment.

Chief Medical Officer of the Macau Grand Prix, Dr. Chan Wai Sin, said two photographers and one track marshal were also injured in the crash and taken to hospital for treatment.

Crashes are frequent at the Macau Grand Prix which this year, in its 65th edition, hosted six car and motorcycle races on the 6.2-km Guia Circuit around the streets of the island.

Last year, British motorcyclist Daniel Hegarty died after hitting the safety barrier during a race, the eighth rider to have lost his life on the circuit since 1973.

Three motorcyclists were taken to hospital after crashes at the circuit this week with Britain Andrew Dudgeon requiring a metal rod to be inserted in his spine after a crash in practice.

Dudgeon comes from Britain's Isle of Man where 270 motorcyclists have been killed in competition on the island's TT circuits over the last 120 years.

Source: REUTERS
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