Browsing the morning newswires when you see the simple word 'statement' as the subject for a press release from a race series organiser you know it's not good. Of course, we're especially sensitive to such things in the immediate aftermath of
Allan Simonsen's death
at Le Mans just the other week. But news that another GT driver has been killed and another left with serious injuries, this time in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series, is a further blow to a racing community already reeling from Simonsen's death.
The five-car crash early in the Blancpain Super Trofeo round at Paul Ricard yesterday claimed the life of driver Andrea Mame, who later succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident. A Lamborghini statement said fellow drivers Vaclav Petch, Tomas Kral and Dario Cerati were declared fit by doctors while Andrea Solime was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he is conscious and described as in a 'satisfactory' condition.
Racing was immediately suspended and the event then cancelled, and the statement saying, "Automobili Lamborghini will be working with the circuit authorities and SRO to investigate the accident thoroughly in all its aspects."
Concern about safety in the Super Trofeo series were raised back in 2010 after a shocking crash at the Brno round, discussed here on AxisOfOversteer. While the exact circumstances of the Paul Ricard incident remain to be confirmed Lamborghini will no doubt be looking hard at what can be done to ensure the safety of the 'gentlemen drivers' participating.
In the meantime, of course, the firm and racing community at large is simply offering condolences to Mame's family in what has been a shocking and sobering couple of weeks for all involved in the sport at whatever level.
[Sources: AxisOfOversteer, Lamborghini]