High-Speed F3 'Flying Car' Horror Crash Leaves Five In Hospital

After a car lost control badly on the tight Macau street circuit, it left the ground and became a deadly missile that slammed directly into a marshal's post

Lucky no one was killed in this F3 crash this morning, Sophia Florsch the driver has a fractured back but will hopefully make a full recovery đŸ‘đŸŒ

Posted by Jim Pitkeathly on Sunday, November 18, 2018

A driver has been left needing spinal surgery and four others have been hospitalised after a shocking crash at the Macau Formula 3 race.

As the train of cars approached a 90-degree right-hander on lap four of the street circuit, which is almost fully bordered by metal barriers, Sophia Florsch’s number 25 Van Amersfoort Racing car reportedly had contact with another, causing Florsch to lose control and spin just before the braking zone. Some reports suggest that the car in front of Florsch braked extremely early.

Unable to slow down and facing the wrong way, the car became a missile hurtling across the turning cars ahead of it. But before ploughing into too many of them, Florsch’s car hit the kerb on the inside of the corner and launched into the air like a missile. It then clipped the top of another car, flew over the safety barrier and slammed into a marshal’s post on the outside of the bend. Hard.

The impact crushed the rear and top of the car, putting huge pressure down the helpless Florsch’s spine. Spinal fractures have been reported by various outlets, with the young driver being sent for surgery this morning. She was conscious and responsive after the crash, thankfully, and more recently tweeted a message of thanks to all the medical staff who helped her.

Remote video URL

The shocking collision sent bits of carbonfibre and fencing flying into the busy corner, too. Two photographers were hurt; one with a concussion and another with a laceration to his liver. Ouch. Unlucky marshal Chan Cha In suffered deep facial cuts, a broken jaw and a stomach wound.

Japan’s number 31 driver Sho Tsuboi was also taken to hospital after getting caught up in the terrible collision.

The race was quickly red-flagged – for the second time. Earlier in the race a multi-car pile-up on the narrow circuit had caused a full stoppage while cars and debris were cleared away.

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Comments

Anonymous

Crazy! Glad she is okay. Goes to show the safety of modern race cars.

11/19/2018 - 10:06 |
20 | 0
London

That’s a bad one


11/19/2018 - 10:24 |
0 | 0
Ali Mahfooz

As much as I dislike the halo, it would’ve certainly prevented her spinal injury in this scenario. I do wish the photographer and the marshals a speedy recovery.

11/19/2018 - 10:55 |
0 | 0

Even with the Halo preventing her from direct contact with the barrier, I honestly dont think her spine would survive such extreme G force from the high speed impact

11/19/2018 - 12:52 |
8 | 0
Austin98

As much as I love and enjoy racing, I have to say at this point that I hope this is the last grand prix in Macau. There have been so many huge and scary wreckages over the years that I strongly believe that there shouldn’t be any races there anymore. It is only a matter of time until something worse happens.
Or then at least put up some more chicanes to slow the cars down. Street circuit and high speeds don’t go well together

11/19/2018 - 11:42 |
58 | 4

Last year a Moto GP rider lost his life at the Macau GP. It is indeed a very dangerous track both for motorcycles and cars.

11/19/2018 - 14:51 |
0 | 0

Don’t get me wrong, I see where you’re coming from. I really don’t want to see another tragedy here, and Macau should really get some safety upgrades - the fence there looks like it’s made of paper (compared to other circuits where you’ll see cars bounce off them at 120+ mph), and if memory serves me rightly there’s not a single gravel trap on the circuit. but it’s not by far and away the most dangerous circuit. Since 1967, Macau has had 11 deaths (8 of them were motorcyclists), and in the same space of time Brands Hatch has had 29 fatal crashes. If motor racing should be stopped at Macau for being too dangerous, then why shouldn’t it be stopped anywhere else?

11/19/2018 - 18:19 |
14 | 0
phil93

This is why FIA needs to retain the traditional layout circuits with a big and purposely designed run-off areas. Street circuits are inherently unsafe for the drivers, the spectators, the marshals and basically everyone around. With the exception of Baku GP, they didn’t produce any overtake-packed races either.

11/19/2018 - 11:50 |
6 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by phil93

The Macau Grand Prix has been held for longer without year off than the Monaco Grand Prix. You might not want to talk about traditional layouts.

11/19/2018 - 12:36 |
6 | 0
Lewyegan

In reply to by phil93

I couldnt ageee with your comment anymore. Ive said that this track is ridiculous and should be revised or discontinued but ive had people saying to wrap myself up in bubble wrap if im scared! But this track is imposing additional risks! If she went into that barrier she would have been dead! But if this one a purpose built track, the run off would have likely created enough space for the car to slow down and have gravel in place to assist whilst also making it safer for other drivers!

11/19/2018 - 12:36 |
4 | 0
ù‚©!ÅÂč@ŔĐ Transit supervan

In reply to by phil93

Macau’s a FIA grade 3 track , with the exception of monaco for historical reasons every single track on the f1 calendar is required to be FIA grade 1 . History is a big reason they go to Macau as well . A big part of getting grade 1 certification is safety,run-off,facilities etc . All the street tracks bar monaco on the f1 calendar are grade 1 while purpose built tracks like the Nordschleife and brands hatch are not . All street tracks are not more dangerous than purpose built ones

11/19/2018 - 15:46 |
8 | 0
Griffin Mackenzie

The race marshal standing on the other side of the fence needs to buy a lottery ticket god dayum

11/19/2018 - 14:21 |
16 | 0

the driver also needs to buy one. it looked like she could die but she came out with just spinal injuries

11/20/2018 - 08:17 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

The big problem is that this f3 cars ar to damn quick for this unexperienced drivers

11/20/2018 - 10:34 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Well she couldn’t do anything. She got hit and spun right before the breaking point. Happens in F1 as well. All of these drivers are certainly experienced racing drivers with years of racing experience. It’s just that accidents happen.

11/20/2018 - 14:28 |
2 | 0