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Motorsports

18th Nov 2018

Formula 3 driver fractures spine after horrific crash during Macau Grand Prix

Kyle Picknell

This is one of those crashes that has to be seen to be believed

17-year-old Sophia Florsch, a talented Formula 3 driver, suffered a horrific crash during the Macau Grand Prix on Sunday.

Just before turning into a bend, the German lost control of her car which then flew up into the air, spinning, and crashed into the fences around the edge of the race track.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqMr8NKnnjV/

Fortunately, a statement from her team Van Amersfoort Racing has confirmed that Florsch is conscious and in a stable condition. She has, however, suffered a fractured spine and will have surgery on Monday.

Watching the footage, you can’t help but think the outcome could have been much, much worse.

https://twitter.com/TopGear_BR/status/1064102041893699584

The driver of the other car involved in the crash, Japan’s Sho Tsuboi, has also been taken to hospital with back pain.

Photographer Minami Hiroyuki has a concussion, while marshal Chan Cha In suffered a fractured facial bone and lacerations according to race officials. Another photographer, Chan Weng Wang, has a liver laceration.

The race was immediately red-flagged and did not restart until an hour after the incident.

Florsch thanked fans for their messages of support on Twitter after the accident.

Former Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button was one of those to express relief that the crash wasn’t as bad as first feared after footage emerged.