Sports car sent flying at F1 track that Max Verstappen condemned as 'dangerous'
A terrifying crash occurred on the feared Nordschleife on the Nurburgring last week, resulting in a BMW M2 and Porsche GT3 RS colliding and igniting a fireball. Miraculously, both drivers are believed to have walked away from the incident.
Dubbed The Green Hell by Jackie Stewart, the Nurburgring's Nordschleife hasn't hosted a Formula 1 race for nearly half a century and was the site of Niki Lauda's infamous near-fatal crash during the 1976 German Grand Prix.
While F1 has since steered clear of its tarmac, the public can drive on it during Touristenfahrten, when it's open to recreational drivers for a small fee.
Disaster struck last week when two vehicles collided, slamming into a barrier at nearly 200 km/h and bursting into flames. Despite both cars being written off, it's believed that the occupants survived.
The collision occurred as the RS appeared to be attempting a fast lap with the slower M2 ahead. As the Porsche tried to overtake on the inside, they reached a corner, and although the BMW seemed aware of the other car, it appears the GT3 RS was clipped, causing both to spin into a barrier.
CCTV footage circulating online shows the Porsche hitting the barrier first, followed by the BMW. The cars were then engulfed in flames, with the aftermath images equally shocking. Traffic rules do apply on the Nurburgring outside of official sporting events.
Both vehicles were completely totalled in the smash and can be seen by the roadside in a sorry state. The Porsche driver and Po Daily YouTube channel host Waldemar Peitrzak have since headed to social media, releasing a statement on Monday, reports the Express.
"I just want to inform you that I am fine," he shared in a post on Instagram. "I will be leaving the hospital soon. I only have a few bruises and scratches, no fractures, no internal injuries, and the muscle pain is almost gone.
"The accident looked tragic. There were three impacts. First, hitting the barrier at 190 km/h, which generated nearly 50 g of force. Then, falling to the ground, and finally, a BMW hit me again after I had fallen. I remember everything, I got out of the car myself, felt dizzy, and lay down on the ground.
"I love Nurburgring. I've done over 100 laps there. I have to stop racing on the track because of my family. I have a wife who was without contact for three hours, and a two-and-a-half-year-old son. Thank you to everyone who helped me at that time."
Four-time F1 champion Verstappen has recently voiced his concerns about the Nordschleife, acknowledging that it's a part of the Nurburgring circuit that won't ever see a comeback.
"That's really not going to happen with the Formula 1 cars we have now, I'm afraid," he replied, in response to a question about F1's potential comeback to the legendary circuit.
"With GT3 speed it is okay and still doable. I have seen old footage now and then, also of Formula 1 on the Nordschleife. One thing is for sure: F1 there, that will never happen again. Far too dangerous."
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