We’ve seen some big crashes in motorsport this weekend. Chaz Mostert’s Ford Falcon pinballed off walls approaching Forrest’s Elbow at up to 170 km/h during Bathurst qualifying on Friday, with the defending Bathurst 1000 champion blaming sun glare for the crash that also took out a steward’s box and landed him in hospital needing surgery on both a broken leg and wrist. The three trackside officials were cleared of serious injury, with the rest of the day’s racing being called off.
Then on Saturday in the Aussie Racing Car Series, Damien Flack spectacularly rolled his race car on the fastest stretch in Australian motorsport, Conrod Straight. Flack received inadvertent contact from behind by his brother Adrian at 230 km/h, spinning before rolling six times and catching fire next after resting next to the barrier.
But the worst just might be this crash from 21-year old Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jnr during qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, who was airlifted to hospital after he lost control of his Toro Rosso on the approach to the fastest section of the circuit. Sainz collided into the nearside wall, destroying the front left of his car, before careering head-on into the tyre barrier at turn 13.
Sainz was expected to stay in hospital overnight but was released late on Saturday evening, a great result for all involved. He was this morning given the green light by the FIA to race in this evening’s Russian Grand Prix.
You can catch the race live on both Channel 10 and Fox Sports 5 from 9.45pm AEST.
