Massive F2 Crash Eau Rouge
Discussion
Ambleton said:
A sad day, I'm not sure any amount of protection would have helped in that instance. Being Tboned in a car that's already been crashed is just about the worst possible accident you could think of. Thoughts are with his family.
Let's also not forget Correa. The impact to his car was apparently so bad is feet/legs were sticking out of the overturned car, trapping him in there, so his extraction was complex. Hopefully his feet/legs can be saved. At least he has his life.
Yes you could see his feet but thankfully they looked undamaged, visually atleast. Let's also not forget Correa. The impact to his car was apparently so bad is feet/legs were sticking out of the overturned car, trapping him in there, so his extraction was complex. Hopefully his feet/legs can be saved. At least he has his life.
RSbandit said:
Horrific crash and thoughts are with his family RIP Antoine. It's almost impossible to survive a tbone impact at 170-180mph I'd have thought.
Very hard to survive the t-bone, yes.Correa’s car should not have failed as it did, however. The monocoque failed aft of the front bulkhead:
Wheel tethers did their job, although these days Halo of course mitigates some of that threat.
I hope some revisions are made to monocoque design in light of this, as it looks like insufficient thought has been given to the stability of the pedalbox area.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Yes you could see his feet but thankfully they looked undamaged, visually atleast.
Barring the fact they are still in his racing suit in some description, I’m not sure that visually seeing them in the aftermath of a smash can be anything positive at all.F2 is so safe its a big shock when these things happen, there will be lessons but I think this was just a case of the track and the speeds involved meant there was such an impact it was not really preventable. The cars are not indestructible and 750kg into 25mm of carbon at 150mph is going to end badly.
Massive loss to the sport as he was a great driver and the only consolation is he went out doing what he loved and was racing flat out when it happened.
Massive loss to the sport as he was a great driver and the only consolation is he went out doing what he loved and was racing flat out when it happened.
Always horrible when news like this comes, condolences to the family and friends.
Looking at the only video I've seen of it (sent by a friend with no mention of it being fatal) the initial impact was the usual one at Spa, it was the second, full speed t-boning that was the final blow. There's nothing you can do in that situation, no safety system or driving standards rule will prevent it. As it says on the ticket 'Motorport is Dangerous', that said it's still a shock when it's proven correct.
Looking at the only video I've seen of it (sent by a friend with no mention of it being fatal) the initial impact was the usual one at Spa, it was the second, full speed t-boning that was the final blow. There's nothing you can do in that situation, no safety system or driving standards rule will prevent it. As it says on the ticket 'Motorport is Dangerous', that said it's still a shock when it's proven correct.
You're in the lap of the Gods when two cars come together at a closing speed of 175mph. There's simply too much energy involved at those speeds - no car design can reliably prevent death and serious injury in those circumstances.
I suspect that the changes that will happen following this crash will be aimed at preventing cars bouncing off a barrier and back across the track.
RIP AH
I suspect that the changes that will happen following this crash will be aimed at preventing cars bouncing off a barrier and back across the track.
RIP AH
I really do hate sanitising motorsport but I think its time Spa puts a left turn into a small complex to the car park before Eau Rouge. There is plenty of space and yes they would have to move the grandstand back but enough people have died there now IMHO. Cars will only get faster and there is no easy way to re profile the track at the top due to the hill and the river on the other side. Just use the space they already have.
I think all motor sport should stop. It's obvious that there is no tolerance for risk or danger from those who profess to support it as a spectacle. It's sad that someone has died. But the only way to stop fatalities in motor sport is to stop motorsport.
Every time someone dies now there is a rush to change this or that. What more can realistically done to remove the inherent risks in the activity apart from ceasing that activity?
Every time someone dies now there is a rush to change this or that. What more can realistically done to remove the inherent risks in the activity apart from ceasing that activity?
Realistically, motorsport has a choice of two practical options following this awful crash.
1, Stop racing at the historic circuits, eg Spa, Suzuka, Monaco which all drivers and fans of the sport love, but which cannot be modified in such a way that they would meet the highest level of safety regulations for new tracks designed today. This, of course, is what happened at the Nordschleife following Lauda’s near-fatal crash in 1976.
2, Accept that continuing to race at these tracks involves a significantly increased amount of risk, and that they can never be completely sanitised.
1, Stop racing at the historic circuits, eg Spa, Suzuka, Monaco which all drivers and fans of the sport love, but which cannot be modified in such a way that they would meet the highest level of safety regulations for new tracks designed today. This, of course, is what happened at the Nordschleife following Lauda’s near-fatal crash in 1976.
2, Accept that continuing to race at these tracks involves a significantly increased amount of risk, and that they can never be completely sanitised.
Bradgate said:
Realistically, motorsport has a choice of two practical options following this awful crash.
1, Stop racing at the historic circuits, eg Spa, Suzuka, Monaco which all drivers and fans of the sport love, but which cannot be modified in such a way that they would meet the highest level of safety regulations for new tracks designed today. This, of course, is what happened at the Nordschleife following Lauda’s near-fatal crash in 1976.
2, Accept that continuing to race at these tracks involves a significantly increased amount of risk, and that they can never be completely sanitised.
I agree however what do you then do when you have an incident like the lad who lost both his legs a few years ago. That wasn't the track. It was unfortunate. 1, Stop racing at the historic circuits, eg Spa, Suzuka, Monaco which all drivers and fans of the sport love, but which cannot be modified in such a way that they would meet the highest level of safety regulations for new tracks designed today. This, of course, is what happened at the Nordschleife following Lauda’s near-fatal crash in 1976.
2, Accept that continuing to race at these tracks involves a significantly increased amount of risk, and that they can never be completely sanitised.
You have to minimise the risk but how many times has a car gone through that corner and the incident not happened in this way?
I'd guess based on little to no evidence we are talking about this incident as a 1 in a million incident?
Petrolsniffed said:
I agree however what do you then do when you have an incident like the lad who lost both his legs a few years ago. That wasn't the track. It was unfortunate.
If you are referring to Billy monger's crash, if I remember correctly there was immediately a modification to the rear jacking points of F1, F2 and F3 cars to minimise the risk of a reoccurance.Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff