17-year-old German driver Sophia Floersch was involved in arguably the most insane crash you will ever see over the weekend at the 2018 Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix. And as amazing as the video of the crash is, what’s significantly more amazing is that, according to several reports, everyone involved in it is going to live.
As the rest of the field was slowing down for a tight right-hand turn, Floersch went flying by at around 171 miles-per-hour, according to speed-trap data, clipping the car of Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi, and being LAUNCHED like a rocket into the catch fence before coming to a stop when the car hit a structure and came to rest in a photographers’ bunker.
Macau F3 crash – different angle pic.twitter.com/r2TaZZN4Ke
— M (@thedonatsra) November 18, 2018
Floersch was reportedly conscious the entire time and was taken to the hospital with a spinal fracture, later tweeting that she was okay and would undergo surgery on Monday.
Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine but will be going into Surgery tomorow morning. Thanks to the @fia and @hwaag_official @MercedesAMGF1 who are taking great care of me.
Thanks to everybody for the Supporting messages.
Update soon.— Sophia Floersch (@SophiaFloersch) November 18, 2018
Four other people were reported injured as a result of the crash. Driver Tsuboi was taken to the hospital with back pain, while a marshal suffered facial lacerations and a fractured jaw, and two photographers were also injured, one with a concussion and one with a laceration to his liver.
After the crash, Floersch’s car owner Frits van Amersfoort told the BBC, “It was nearly a rocket. Surviving was incredible. We reckon she was travelling at 276km/h (171.6mph) at the time.”
Van Amersfoort Racing's @SophiaFloersch, a 17-year-old F3 driver goes flying after high-speed crash. Watch here: https://t.co/yDArKdRCxS pic.twitter.com/HMyjZ9Qn9M
— WION (@WIONews) November 18, 2018
“We got some information from social media while we were waiting at the door of race control, but when you look at those images it is heartbreaking so we were thinking of the worst,” the Dutchman told BBC Radio 5 live.
“It took quite a long time before the race control could say anything about the health of Sophia – everyone can imagine that’s not a nice thing to have.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this. I haven’t seen all accidents in motorsport but this was surely one of the worst I’ve ever seen.
“We were lucky that she was flying because she went over a barrier. If she had hit the barrier it would have gone a lot worse.”
No kidding.
Former Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button and 3-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti were among those sending along their well-wishes following the crash.
Glad you’re ok, all the best for your recovery 👍🏼💪🏼
— Dario Franchitti (@dariofranchitti) November 18, 2018
Sorry to hear that @SophiaFloersch has a spinal fracture but looking at the horrific accident she had today in Macau it could have been so much worse. #getwellsoonSophia https://t.co/NFqxi0stNB
— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) November 18, 2018
Seriously.
https://twitter.com/saika159/status/1064422855813808129
ドライバは多分大丈夫 pic.twitter.com/gPXY6Ip8uu
— サイカ (@saika159) November 18, 2018